Even though Leeds United are in the relegation zone and without a manager, they were never going to make things easy for Manchester United.

Especially when the two clubs had to play one another within the space of a few days.

Despite a couple scares, most notably in the first fixture, United came away with four points from the two games. But had it not been for some impactful changes made by Erik Ten Hag, things could have panned out worse for United.

The first match of the double header between the two came at Old Trafford. United struggled to match Leeds’s physicality and intensity at times in the first half and were a goal down within the first minute of the game.

Things only got worse at the start of the second half when the Yorkshire side doubled their lead to leave United with a mountain to climb. But as a former United manager and super-sub striker once said, ‘mountains are there to be climbed.’

Like Solskjaer often was, the substitutes proved to be the difference maker for Manchester United, as Jadon Sancho and Facundo Pellistri replaced Wout Weghorst and Alejandro Garnacho who both struggled to make an impact.

While Pellistri did okay, it was Sancho who shone at Old Trafford as the majority of United’s joy came from the left wing, which he was occupying. This also allowed Rashford to move centrally.

Then as he has done for a majority of games post World Cup, Rashford scored for United. Meeting Diogo Dalot’s cross with a fine header to bring the Reds back into the game.

United then mounted the pressure on Leeds with sustained attacks until they finally found the equaliser through Sancho. After a prolonged absence from the first team, you could see how much that goal meant to him and his teammates.

Unfortunately, despite having all the hallmarks of another classic United comeback win, the Reds were unable to find a third and the match finished 2-2. It’s strange to call it a disappointing result given United were two goals down, but perhaps the standards have just drastically increased under Ten Hag.

United would then have to do it all again only a few days later away at Elland Road. A stadium with such a hatred for Manchester United, the only place you would find any shade of red is on the fire extinguishers.

Again, Leeds made things difficult for Ten Hag and his men. Not shying away from any tackle and United found it hard to create any clear-cut opportunities. The closest being an error at the back which Bruno Fernandes failed to capitalise on late in the first half.

However, similarly to the home fixture, Ten Hag’s changes prove to be decisive. This time he brought on Lisandro Martinez and Garnacho. Which allowed Rashford to go up top with Weghorst just behind him as a number 10.

It proved to be a masterstroke from the Dutchman as United then began to gain a foothold in the game and ten minutes before full time Rashford scored another headed goal. His 21st goal in all competitions this season.

Shortly after this Weghorst assisted Garnacho to grab a second for United. Fitting that the two men brought off midweek combined to wrap up a 2-0 win on Sunday.

Despite being far from their best on Sunday, a win is a win and these last two games have highlighted just how remarkable Ten Hag’s tactical understanding is. It also keeps United within touching distance of City and Arsenal and well within the top four.

Hopefully the manager can produce similar magic against Barcelona as United next travel to the Nou Camp in the Europa League before they return to Old Trafford against a resurging Leicester.

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