How Manchester United climbed a mountain and overcame Braga

Javier Hernandez of Manchester United celebrates with his team-mates (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

This week has been a difficult one for English clubs with ambitions of climbing to the summit of European football.
Chelsea, who enjoyed the ultimate mountaintop experience last May, were brought crashing back to Earth in Donetsk this week, while Arsenal slipped down a crevasse against Schalke and Manchester City were buried after failing to heed the avalanche warnings in Amsterdam.
Manchester United were the only winners, but could have easily joined the rest in defeat. For the eight time in 12 games this season they conceded first and once again, it was an early goal. When Alan scored his second after 20 minutes the situation looked dire. Barely had the team left base camp than the climb ahead had already taken on Himalayan proportions.

However, this year’s Manchester United is a side that has, out of necessity, climbed more mountains than Sherpa Tensing. They may have run out of oxygen in their attempt to come back against Tottenham, but in other matches their ability to haul themselves to the top has been demonstrated time and again.
The diamond shape that Sir Alex Ferguson has adopted in recent matches turned out to be notably ineffective against Braga, who had set themselves up tactically to combat it. While Kagawa produced the cross for Hernandez to pull a goal back and was only substituted for Nani because of injury, there was clearly a more familiar â€" and effective â€" shape in evidence in the second half.
With Rooney moving to the left and the Portuguese side unable to get their full-backs on the ball as much, United dominated possession in the second half. It may be that Braga got football’s equivalent of altitude sickness after reaching unaccustomed heights so quickly. But when Manchester United chase a game and the opposition cannot get out of their own half there is usually only one result.
So it proved on this occasion. A year to the day from the horror of the 6-1 home defeat by Manchester City, few would have been more pleased to equalize than Johnny Evans, whose sending off in that derby had contributed so much to the calamity.
For Hernandez, scoring the winning goal provided a vital reminder to his boss ahead of the big game away to Chelsea of what he is capable of. And so it should; at Stamford Bridge last year, another header by the Mexican completed a comeback from 3-0 down to 3-3, yet another mountain climbed.
They may have ongoing defensive problems, but United can turn to a strike force with the quality, depth and sharpness of an ice axe to dig them out of trouble. Even so, nobody at Old Trafford will want this situation to continue. Once missing defenders are fit and Michael Carrick is no longer playing at centre back, some clean sheets will be welcome.
But the biggest lesson provided by this week may be that switching tactics, formations and even bringing in a hungry striker with a point to prove can sometimes turn even the most formidable crag into a gentle slope. And when all is said and done, United are sitting pretty by the summit cairn of their group with maximum points from three games, while the other sides scramble and stumble on the slopes below.
What is more, there could hardly be a greater contrast with the team across town. With Roberto Mancini leaving the Dutch capital wearing the look of a man who has just encountered a Yeti, few at Old Trafford will be complaining right now.
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