Lingard: Rashford's Speed Was Key

Jesse Lingard has admitted Marcus Rashford was “buzzing” after scoring the winner in the Manchester derby - and revealed that utilising the striker’s pace against City had been a key part of United's game plan.

The Blues started with Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala at centre-back in the absence of injured first-choice duo Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi, a selection which seemed to encourage the Reds - never more so than when Rashford rounded Demichelis on 16 minutes to coolly dispatch a decisive finish past Joe Hart.

Sunday’s match at the Etihad Stadium enabled Lingard and Rashford to start in a Manchester derby for the first time and it was a positive day for both. “Yeah it was good,” Jesse told ManUtd.com. “I came on earlier in the season against them [at Old Trafford] and they are a difficult side to play against because they keep the ball very well. But we exploited their weaknesses and we came away with the goal.”

Asked if it was United’s plan to specifically target Demichelis, Lingard was reluctant to pinpoint his Argentinian opponent but conceded Rashford’s pace was always going to cause problems for the Blues. “Not necessarily,” he said, “but obviously we knew that was one of their weaknesses, with Marcus’s pace running in behind and he got his reward for it as well.

“He is buzzing but I was keeping him grounded! He is already grounded anyway to be fair; he is always grounded and has his feet on the ground. He’s looking forward to the rest of his career now.”

Speaking of being grounded, Lingard also admitted he was quick to intervene when Rashford was involved in a scuffle with two City players following a first-half penalty appeal. “Yeah, I had to back him up didn’t I and look after the young lads! [Laughs] But I thought it was a penalty as well.”

United are now just one point behind fourth-placed City in the Barclays Premier League with eight games left to play and, like Rashford, Lingard admitted his manager Louis van Gaal was “buzzing” after the match. But he was also quick to point out that Sunday’s win will mean little if the Reds cannot keep winning.

“Yeah it is a massive win,” Jesse told ManUtd.com at the Etihad Stadium. “The lads put a lot of effort in, we pressed really well and kept the ball really well. To get the early goal was massive for us.

“The manager was buzzing. But obviously we know it is not like it is the last game of the season, we have to kick on now and focus on beating Everton. This is a major boost but we have got to take it game by game still. We have game plans for set teams and when we stick to them we usually win.”