David Beckham always had a penchant for setting up goals, and at the age of 48, he may have indirectly contributed to another one for Manchester United. When Scott McTominay prepared to step onto the field on Saturday, he had transformed into somewhat of a superhero, inspired by a Netflix binge the night before.
McTominay had spent his Friday evening watching segments of the Beckham documentary, bearing the football icon’s name, available on the streaming platform.
This viewing reignited the profound meaning of representing Manchester United for McTominay. The simple act of wearing the iconic red jersey propelled him to a higher plane of motivation.
It felt serendipitous that McTominay, an academy product deeply rooted in the club for 21 years, emerged as the hero of the weekend.
Fueled by his exposure to the Beckham documentary, he managed to score two injury-time goals, all while wearing a black armband in tribute to Lady Cathy Ferguson, Sir Alex’s wife. It was an outcome that, until then, had seemed as unlikely as the famous comebacks witnessed in the past.
McTominay’s deep dive into the four-part Beckham documentary serves as a testament to his character. Having been associated with the club since the age of five, he possesses an intrinsic understanding of what it truly means to be a part of Manchester United.
While the team had been shaken by a string of six defeats in ten games, McTominay’s viewing of the documentary highlighted the down-to-earth essence of the club, especially in its early scenes when Beckham was finding his place at United.
It showcased Beckham’s remarkable feats, like scoring from the halfway line and his embrace by a welcoming football family after facing torment with the England national team, before the infamous incident involving Sir Alex Ferguson’s stray boot and a publicized split.
Reflecting on his stellar performance, McTominay commented, “I was watching David Beckham’s documentary last night, and things like that inspire you. The real culture about Man United, what it means to the fans and the people who work here; Kath on reception, people like that. That’s who we do it for and who it means the most to.”
However, amidst Manchester United’s current struggles, it raises questions about how many others in the squad truly grasp this sentiment.
While there remains an allure to playing for Manchester United, it should ideally come with an inherent understanding that the club represents something far greater than personal acclaim.
It’s a global football institution with a profound local connection, as McTominay earnestly attempted to convey.
Yet, understanding alone isn’t sufficient to forge a successful career at United, but it is crucial to have a presence of academy graduates in the squad.
Over the past decade, the essence of Manchester United has dwindled, suffering both on and off the pitch, partly due to the ownership woes of the Glazer family. Maintaining a connection with the club’s illustrious past has never been more vital.
From leveraged buyouts to mounting debt, dividends, extravagant transfer spending, ailing stadium infrastructure, and a seemingly interminable takeover process, the documentary about Beckham reminds us that there still exists an aura of romance around Manchester United.
It’s intriguing to ponder whether McTominay extracted any other lessons from the documentary, even though we may never know.
Does it serve as a stark reminder of how far Manchester United has fallen? Does it provide evidence that the current squad lacks the leadership that was once abundant in Beckham’s era?
One thing is clear; the current squad would not have endured the criticism recently directed at them by Erik ten Hag in the aftermath of their 2-1 victory on Saturday.
The Dutch manager remarked, “In football, it is eat or get eaten. Too many times in the first half of this season, we got eaten by opponents who are more hungry. This can’t be. It has to go away,”
While McTominay may not epitomize the ideal midfielder in terms of technical prowess, he can never be accused of lacking heart or fighting spirit. After a night of reveling in Manchester United nostalgia on Friday, he etched his name into the club’s storied history on Saturday.
Scott McTominay
Scott McTominay
This season he played in total 5 times for 185 minutes for Premier League.
Scott McTominay scored 2 goals for Manchester United. He procured no assists. He received no yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 10th in Premier League. In the last match Manchester United won 2-1 against Brentford. The next match in Premier League will be against Sheffield United.
Manchester United performance and stats
Manchester United is currently 10th in the Premier League with 12 points.
In the last 8 games, it has won 4 times and lost 4 times. In its last match, Manchester United won 2-1 against Brentford.
It has a negative goal difference after scoring 9 goals and conceding 12.
Manchester United will play the next match in Premier League against Sheffield United on Sunday 22nd of October in Sheffield.