Andy Mitten

On The Ball | Manchester United are much improved, but the small margins are what make also-rans into champions

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side found out on Wednesday that it’s the almost imperceptible advantages that make champions

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Victor Lindelof’s Manchester United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup courtesy of two set-piece goals by league rivals Manchester City on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Andy Mitten

Published: 4:40pm, 8 Jan 2021Updated: 6:53pm, 8 Jan 2021

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer talks about the small margins that win the biggest games. On Wednesday against Manchester City, those margins were superior performances from players in blue. Fred didn’t play as well as his former teammate Fernandinho in a similar role, while the same could be said of Victor Lindelof and his old clubmate Ruben Dias, who was the man of match. They just had that little bit more than their United equivalents.

Lindelof and Dias are two of many who made their name at Benfica’s talent factory before going on to a richer league. Only their compatriots Porto can rival Benfica for developing and selling footballers on for a profit.

Dias was Lindelof’s replacement when the Swede departed for Manchester United in 2017. Lindelof is three years older. Benfica give emerging talents a respected stage in a Champions League class side and then move them on. The Manchester clubs have five players who came through Benfica’s system, and United also signed Bruno Fernandes and Alex Telles from Portugal.

As Benfica’s chief executive Domingos Oliveira told the Post: “Our core business is to find the best at an early stage. Finding players while they’re cheaper allows us to sell them on as they’re moving towards the top. If you play for one of the big three clubs in Portugal then you have a ‘guarantee’ stamp.”

Dias played twice against United in 2017 for a Benfica side who lost all six of their Champions League group games, but he was allowed to learn, make mistakes and improve. By 2020 he was ready to be sold for a huge €68 million fee and he’s been steady and without drama for City. United also watched Dias when he was at Benfica but didn’t go for him.