The Red Devils' revival starts with retaining Mourinho

While the outside world is still hotly discussing the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, Manchester United is at home to welcome the English FA Cup quarter-finals with Swansea City Football Club.

Swansea Football Club is different from traditional English teams. It is a rare team in the Championship League that focuses on passing and controlling. It is famous in the English football world for its delicate technology and exquisite cooperation. Manchester United coach Mourinho made some rotations in the starting lineup of this game.

In the goalkeeper position, because the captain David De Gea has slight leg muscle fatigue, the second goalkeeper Christian Romero got the chance to start;

On the back line: The two wing left backs Theo Fernandez and right back Ashraf Hakimi continue to start, and the central defenders are injured because Raphael Varane and Kepler Laveran Lima Ferreira (Pepe). Joshko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias started as central defenders for the first time this season.

In the midfield, Marco Verratti and Rodrigo Hernandez, who started in the previous games, were rested in this game, while Nico Williams, Dani Olmo and Bruno Fernandes got the chance to start in this game;

On the striker line, the team's current top scorer Edinson Cavani and the center forward Romelu Lukaku who performed well in the previous games were rested, while Cody Gakpo, Marcus Rashford and Erling Haaland started, with Marcus Rashford wearing the team's captain's armband for the first time.

On the bench: Lee Grant, Diogo Dalot, Ferland Mendy, Jamal Musiala, Aurelian Chuameni, Jude Bellingham, Jesse Lingard, all ready to go on business trips at any time. Among them, midfielder Jesse Lingard returned to the game lineup for the first time after more than six months of long recovery period after being seriously injured in the fifth round of the Premier League away challenge against Watford on September 22.

On the afternoon of April 6, the sun shone on the sacred green of Old Trafford Stadium, and the battle of the English FA Cup was ignited here. Manchester United played at home and welcomed the challenge from Swansea, a team in the English Second League. In the stands, the Red Devils fans wore red jerseys, waved flags, and shouted like rolling waves, as if to drown the entire stadium.

With the referee's whistle, the game officially kicked off. Manchester United's players rushed forward like a tide, trying to take the initiative on the field at the beginning. Swansea quickly set up a bus formation, and the players shrank their defense and waited for it.

Just two minutes into the game, Bruno Fernandes took the ball in the midfield and used his penetrating passing vision to find Marcus Rashford with a precise pass. Marcus Rashford was like a red lightning, breaking through along the left side. Seeing this, Swansea's full-back Connor Roberts hurried forward to block, but Marcus Rashford made a clever change of direction and instantly passed Connor Roberts.

He cut into the penalty area and was about to shoot when Swansea's central defender Mike van der Horn stood in front of him like an iron tower. Marcus Rashford had no choice but to pass the ball back.

In the seventh minute, Nico Williams played a beautiful match with Ashraf Hakimi on the right side. Nico Williams used his speed to force a breakthrough on Swansea's full-back Bersant Celina, and then passed a low ball from the bottom. Erling Haaland rushed forward like a hungry beast in the penalty area, but Swansea's defenders Mike van der Horn and Carter-Weeks were like a group of tenacious guards. They used their bodies to hold their positions tightly. Although Erling Haaland tried his best, he could not squeeze out the two defenders to grab the point.

Swansea's bus formation repeatedly frustrated Manchester United's offense. Their central defender combination Mike van der Horn and Carter-Weeks was like an insurmountable barrier, keeping Manchester United's offensive players out. Every time Manchester United players tried to break through or shoot, they would be resolved by Swansea's defenders with precise tackles or tenacious physical confrontations.

In the tenth minute, Dani Olmo took the ball in the midfield and tried to break the deadlock with a long shot. He adjusted his pace, then exerted force suddenly, and the football flew towards the goal like a cannonball. But Swansea goalkeeper Christopher Nordfeldt reacted quickly, leaping up and holding the ball firmly in his arms.

As the game progressed, Manchester United's attack became more and more impatient. The players frequently passed the ball in front of Swansea's defense, trying to find a flaw. In the 16th minute, Bruno Fernandes got a free kick opportunity at the front of the penalty area. He stood in front of the ball, deepTake a breath, then run up and kick. The football drew a beautiful arc in the air, but Swansea's human wall played a role and blocked the ball.

While defending, Swansea was also looking for opportunities to counterattack. In the 21st minute, they successfully intercepted a pass from Manchester United and quickly launched a counterattack. Swansea striker Daniel James broke through Manchester United's midfield defense with his speed. But Ruben Dias showed the level of a world-class central defender. He calmly stuck in position and then made a clean tackle to intercept the ball.

In the 25th minute, Erling Haaland received a pass from Marcus Rashford in the penalty area. He leaned against Swansea defender Mike van der Horn with his back and tried to turn and shoot. But Carter-Weeks, another central defender of Swansea, stuck to him tightly, leaving him no room to shoot. Erling Haaland had no choice but to pass the ball back to Dani Olmo who was inserted. Dani Olmo took a volley, but the ball was blocked by Swansea's full-back Connor Roberts.

Manchester United had a corner kick opportunity, Bruno Fernandes kicked the ball into the penalty area. Theo Fernandes jumped high and tried to head the ball. But Swansea's defenders defended very tightly in the penalty area, and central defender Carter-Weeks successfully squeezed Theo Fernandes away and cleared the ball out of the penalty area.

The time in the first half slowly passed in Manchester United's crazy attack and Swansea's tenacious defense. Manchester United always firmly occupied the initiative on the field. Their attack was more fierce and the players' offensive desire was stronger.

In the 30th minute, Marcus Rashford got another chance to break through on the left. He used his speed to forcefully break through Swansea's full-back Connor Roberts and then cut into the penalty area. But Swansea's central defender Mike van der Horn made up for the defense in time and blocked Marcus Rashford's shooting angle with his body. Marcus Rashford could only choose to pass the ball to Cody Gakpo, who followed up, and his shot was saved by Swansea goalkeeper Christopher Nordfeldt.

In the 34th minute, Bruno Fernandes sent a wonderful over-the-top pass in the midfield, and Erling Haaland rushed forward like a cheetah. But Swansea goalkeeper Christopher Nordfeldt decisively attacked and hugged the ball before Erling Haaland.

As time passed, Manchester United's attack became more and more disorganized. Their players seemed a little helpless in front of Swansea's bus formation. Swansea's players became more and more confident in their defense, and their defensive actions became more decisive and resolute.

In the 37th minute, Ashraf Hakimi broke through on the right and cut inside, then played a two-on-one match with Dani Olmo. After Ashraf Hakimi cut into the penalty area, he volleyed the ball, but the ball was blocked by Swansea's central defender Mike van der Horn.

While defending, Swansea was also looking for a counterattack. In the 39th minute, they successfully intercepted a pass from Manchester United player Bruno Fernandes in the midfield, and then quickly launched a counterattack. Swansea's left winger Wayne Routledge relied on his speed to break through Manchester United's midfielders Nico Williams and Dani Olmo. But Joshko Gvardiol made timely defense and blocked Wayne Routledge's powerful shot at the front of the penalty area with his body.

As the game progressed, Manchester United's players began to try some new offensive methods. Their full-backs began to frequently assist, increasing the width of the attack. In the 42nd minute, Theo Fernandes made a high-speed insertion on the left side, and then made a cross exchange with Marcus Rashford. Theo Fernandes got a chance to shoot on the left side of the penalty area, and he shot without hesitation. But Swansea goalkeeper Christopher Nordfeldt made another wonderful save and blocked the ball out of the baseline.

Swansea's bus defense gave Manchester United's offensive players a headache. Their offense always seemed to be unable to find an effective breakthrough point. In the 45th minute, Dani Olmo tried to break the deadlock with a long shot at the front of the penalty area. But his shot was blocked again by Swansea's central defender Mike van der Horn, and after the ball bounced out, it was quickly intercepted by Swansea's midfielder Bersant Celina.

Entering the injury time, Manchester United launched the final general attack. Almost all of their players pressed forward, trying to break Swansea's goal in the last few minutes. Swansea's players all retreated and built a human wall in the penalty area.

Manchester United's players penetrated the penalty area through continuous short passes and hit the ball into the penalty areaFront. Their midfielder took another long shot, but the ball was blocked by Swansea's defender. There was chaos in the penalty area. Manchester United's forwards tried to make up the shot, but Swansea's defenders guarded the goal tightly and did not give Manchester United any chance.

Near the end of the first half, Manchester United launched a very threatening attack. Nico Williams broke through on the right and made a cross. Erling Haaland jumped high in the penalty area and headed the ball. Swansea's goalkeeper Christopher Nordfeldt once again showed his superb skills. He jumped high and lifted the ball over the crossbar with his fingertips.

At this time, Erling Haaland stood there, his eyes wide open, his eyes slightly red with shock and annoyance, and his eyes were fixed on the football that flew over the crossbar. His mouth was wide open, and he let out a silent sigh, which was full of endless self-blame and unwillingness. He looked at the Swansea goalkeeper Christopher Nordfeldt and shook his head slightly. It was the fourth time that the agile figure was like a ghost, and he had blocked his goal for the fourth time. This English Championship goalkeeper, whose name he had never heard of before today, was like a patron saint descending on the field in the first half, as if he had divine power.

With the referee's whistle, the first half of the game ended, and the two sides tied 0:0.

The Manchester United players walked off the field somewhat helplessly, their faces full of anxiety and unwillingness. The Swansea players high-fived each other to encourage each other. Their bus formation defense achieved remarkable results in the first half.