'There is no ceiling to Heaven's potential'
[BBC] [Getty Images] On 11 November 2014, Louis van Gaal's Manchester United travelled down to London to face a "Big Six" rival with a makeshift defence. Academy duo Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett lined up alongside Chris Smalling at the Emirates Stadium as United beat Arsenal 2-1. That season was the last with no European football on the calendar.
United went on to seal a top-four finish and a Champions League return. So it feels fitting that Michael Carrick - who started in midfield that day - all-but sealed a Champions League return with a makeshift defence in London on Saturday. Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Ayden Heaven and Luke Shaw made up the back four at Chelsea .
With Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez harshly suspended and Matthijs de Ligt stricken with a long-term back injury, the fragility of that defence dominated the build-up. Yet, the quartet was anything but fragile. I believe a social media dweller would say "the football scriptwriters cooked with this one".
United's three full-backs and 19-year-old centre-half overcame the adversity to keep a rare clean sheet and secure a season-defining three points. Dalot needed to be at his best and he was. He pocketed starboy-turned-villain Alejandro Garnacho.
Shaw showcased his experience to keep possession and win smart fouls when United fell under the cosh. Mazraoui had a particularly torrid night against Leeds five days prior. But he bounced back and his versatility is why his £17m acquisition was so shrewd.