Manchester United 1 Luton 0: Relief for Ten Hag and last game of Glazers in full control?

It wasn’t pretty and it came at a price but Manchester United secured a vital Premier League victory over Luton Town heading into what is expected to be a key international break for the club off the pitch.

Manager Erik ten Hag explained on the eve of this game why he is reluctant to start Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire together and it was Victor Lindelof, preferred to Varane, who scored the only goal on 59 minutes.

It was United’s first home Premier League clean sheet in six matches and with an investment deal with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group expected to be agreed in the near future, it is a game that may be remembered as the end of an era, even if a takeover has given way to a partial sale.

Rasmus Hojlund, the club’s £64million summer signing, remains without a Premier League goal and went off injured on 79 minutes to give United one concern heading into the year’s final international break. Ten Hag was also booked towards the end of the game and will now serve a one-match touchline ban away at Everton.

Dan Sheldon answers the key questions from the game.

How important was this win for Erik ten Hag?

Every victory is crucial for Ten Hag at the moment, especially after recent defeats to Manchester City, Newcastle and, in the Champions League, FC Copenhagen.

United beat Brentford 2-1 in dramatic fashion here in their final match before the previous international break in October but then failed to kick on when the season resumed, so Ten Hag will need to ensure they build on this 1-0 win if he is to ease some of the pressure he finds himself under.

While a home victory against top-flight new boys Luton was expected in what is becoming a more regular 3pm Saturday kick-off slot for United, you never quite know what you are going to get with this group of players, so they deserve credit for getting the job done — even if it was not the most entertaining win.

Until Ten Hag can lead the club to a run of successive wins and show they are making progress, then you would expect him to remain under pressure. The Dutchman knows football is a results business and that United’s results have been far from adequate, but he now needs to make sure the win acts as a catalyst going forward.

One concern for Ten Hag was the sight of Hojlund — whose search for a first Premier League goal now looks like it will extend into December — walking down the tunnel after having to be replaced by Anthony Martial. The Denmark international was down on the pitch, clutching his hamstring, before heading away into the bowels of Old Trafford.

Hojlund’s second-half exit was a concern (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Did Maguire show why he is being picked ahead of Varane?

The message before the game was that it is Maguire’s position to lose and, based on his performance against Luton, as United kept a second straight Premier League clean sheet, the England international can continue to expect to keep Varane out of the starting XI.

Maguire’s first half today had a bit of everything: he marauded forward, shouted at team-mate Scott McTominay for seemingly being in the wrong position and appealed for a penalty after being brought to the ground at a corner.

The situation between Maguire (his touch map against Luton is below) and Varane is a role reversal of last season. This time, the former Real Madrid stalwart and 2018 World Cup winner is the one out of favour. Ten Hag cites “tactical reasons” as the reason why the pair can’t play together, saying “the build-up is not fluid” when they are both on the pitch.

Maguire’s second half was relatively subdued, with Luton limited to shots from outside the area and failing to create any chances that would worry the United defence.

It was Lindelof who instead started alongside Maguire and his finish from a cross that wasn’t cleared properly proved the difference between the sides. Varane eventually got on, replacing Sergio Reguilon on 79 minutes.

Was this the last United game with the Glazers in full control?

The expectation is that, just shy of a year after launching their strategic review, the Glazers will not be in total control once the domestic football returns on November 25 following this international break.

INEOS, the petrochemicals company owned by Manchester-born billionaire Ratcliffe, is closing in on completing a deal to buy a 25 per cent minority shareholding in United.

This would see INEOS take control of the club’s football operation, leaving the Glazers to continue running the hugely successful commercial arm.

Moments after Lindelof scored today, the Stretford End at Old Trafford started chanting “We want Glazers out”. There were also anti-Glazer protests, organised by fans group The 1958, before kick-off.

If this was the last home match before the Glazers sell a 25 per cent stake, you wonder how different the directors’ box will look at the next one — Chelsea’s visit on Wednesday, December 6. Chief executive Richard Arnold is expected to leave his position once the mooted INEOS deal is completed.

What did Ten Hag say?

On his side struggling for goals: “Yes we could have made life more easy when we score goals but we create many chances. First half four 100 percent chances, if you get the first you get the second and it becomes more easy. But if you don’t score they can always drop a ball in the box and you are in trouble. But we had to fight to the end

“I don’t think it is a confidence thing because Rasmus Hojlund scored five goals in Champions League so it will come. (Marcus) Rashford scored 30 goals last season so there will come a day when he starts scoring again. The other offensive players like Garnacho. We have already 13 goalscorers in our team and it shows the way we want to play football, everyone attacking, everyone defending.”

On Hojlund’s injury: “In this moment I can’t say anything about it because we don’t know. We do an assessment but have to wait 24 hours to see what is the problem, if there is a problem.”

On being banned from the touchline: “So that was about a moment so clear, a throw but it was the second time it was so clear and obvious our ball, it was my remark so I get booked. We have a very proper bench, coaching staff and they will take over. My coaching staff is very competent.”

What next for Manchester United?

Sunday, November 26: Everton (A), Premier League, 4.30pm GMT, 11.30am ET

The Premier League now pauses for the year’s final international break, with United facing Everton (A), Galatasaray (A; Champions League), Newcastle (A) and Chelsea (H) in a tough run when they return to action. The good news for United is they have lost only one of five visits to Goodison Park since a 4-0 defeat in April 2019 — Lindelof, McTominay, Martial, Diogo Dalot and Marcus Rashford all played that day.

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