United Briefing: Mason's taking note

Wednesday 27 January 2021 08:00

Edinson Cavani has made a big impact in just three months at Manchester United.

The Uruguayan’s five goals have been important to the fortunes of the Reds, currently riding high in the Premier League, but the former Paris Saint-Germain marksman has also inspired our young forwards with his professionalism and the way he approaches his craft.

That’s according to Mason Greenwood, who was visibly being cajoled by our no.7 during Sunday’s 3-2 Emirates FA Cup win over Liverpool.

Greenwood said he knew straightaway that Cavani was someone he could learn plenty from, along with two other 30-somethings in the United squad.

Which legendary striker did Cavani idolise?

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We asked Edinson whether there was a certain fellow South American that he modelled his game on.

“He’s a top striker, you can tell the second he came here,” Mason told club media.

“The stuff he does, the way he dresses himself, the way he trains, the way he does everything right as a footballer really.

“He reminds me a lot of Juan [Mata] who’s here as well, and Nemanja [Matic] – two great professional players. It’s always good to have them in your team, as a young lad, to look up to and to take note of.”

There’s one asset of Edi’s game that particularly stands out for Mason, too, and it’s something that hasn’t gone unnoticed among United supporters.

“For me, it’s his movement really,” Greenwood added. “I’ve never seen a striker do as many movements.

“He does probably the same movement about six or seven times a game, like the one against Southampton, he does that every day in training. He scored two from doing the exact same thing.

“It’s good to see a high-level striker at the club you can take note of.”

Watch Ole’s press conference in full Video

Watch Ole’s press conference in full

The futures of Lingard and Williams, as well as the form of two forwards, were discussed in Tuesday’s media briefing…

On Tuesday, boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was asked whether he thought Greenwood could kick on in the second half of the season, after his strike against Liverpool ended a goal drought dating back to the beginning of December.

Mason, of course, was prolific in his first campaign for the Reds, netting 17 goals across all competitions. Although that has inevitably slowed this season, Ole believes the striker is adapting his game in different ways, with Cavani playing an important part in that on the training ground.

“I think Mason has taken steps, he has grown, is more mature and he’s been training with Edinson Cavani for half a season now,” Ole told reporters in his pre-match press conference.

“He’s learning good habits and whoever doesn’t learn good habits from a good professional like him or Bruno [Fernandes], or the players we’ve brought in, that’s a pity. I’m very confident that Mason will chip in with good performances and goals and assists.”

Access All Areas: United 3 Liverpool 2 Video

Access All Areas: United 3 Liverpool 2

Listen out for Cavani’s enthusiastic reaction to Rashford’s goal at 6:22, in our behind-the-scenes video from January…

WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY?

It’s all about the Premier League match against Sheffield United, at Old Trafford, which kicks off at 20:15 GMT.

United know that a win over the bottom side will mean we end Matchday 20 top of the table, no matter what Manchester City and Leicester City do.

Follow the action via our Official App and ManUtd.com, while MUTV’s Matchday Live show starts at 19:10 GMT.

United Daily: Reds ready for Blades Video

United Daily: Reds ready for Blades

In today’s round-up: Solskjaer’s team news update, Greenwood on Cavani and more from Maguire’s podcast…

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY?

Ole previewed Wednesday’s clash, giving an update on the knock Marcus Rashford picked up against Liverpool at the weekend and revealing his plans for Facundo Pellistri.

We also published a preview ahead of the visit of the Blades, as well as exclusive interviews with Edinson Cavani and David De Gea.

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