Manchester United vs. Chelsea was tabbed as the biggest game to watch in European football this weekend, but it ended up being a putrid game of football for the neutral fan.
In the end, as pundit and Man United legend Paul Scholes quipped, it ended up being a deserved 1-1 draw for two high-priced sides whose quality on the pitch pales in comparison to the finances it took to assemble both squads.
Manchester United can be pleased to get a point off a team contending for the Champions League, as they are shifting gears to welcoming a new manager on Nov. 11 with Ruben Amorim set to take over after a disastrous start to the season orchestrated by now former manager Erik ten Hag.
Despite the dismal performances from Man United, who sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table, this season, one of their new signings has been a bright spot by making an immediate impact.
Noussair Mazraoui was a hidden gem for Ajax before moving to Bayern Munich and answering their right back questions, and he has quietly been the best player on Manchester United so far in the 2024/25 season.
Once again, Mazraoui was the best player on the pitch for the Red Devils this Sunday at Old Trafford against fellow powerhouse side Chelsea, leading all players with six tackles. He also had two interceptions, two clearances, and a blocked shot defensively.
The Moroccan international was excellent on the ball, too, winning a team-high five dribbles against Chelsea while also drawing a pair of fouls. He completed roughly 92 percent of his passes.
Mazraoui is one of the best two-way right backs in world football and proved it again this weekend, but what makes this performance additionally praiseworthy is the fact that he did it from the left back position, swapping places with Diogo Dalot who usually inverts from right to left.
Not a whole lot is going right for Manchester United at the moment, but with Amorim coming in, there’s plenty of optimism for the future. Mazraoui, a world-class right back in his prime, has become part of an optimistic future at Old Trafford in his own right.
