Anthony Martial scored the brace that fired Manchester United into the semi- finals of the EFL Cup, but it wasn’t the forward who was subject to huge cheers around Old Trafford as he was taken off.
Despite Martial hitting the match winning goals in a solid performance on his return to the side, the loud applause was instead for his 86th minute replacement Bastian Schweinsteiger.
For the German it completed a remarkable comeback following three months in exile after being told by Jose Mourinho that his Manchester United career was effectively over.
He took to Instagram to show his delight after making his first-team return. The German wrote: ‘Amazing evening with a perfect result. Thanks for the warm welcome at Old Trafford!’
Amazing evening with a perfect result. Thanks for the warm welcome at Old Trafford! @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/cPSr1dIO8L
— Basti Schweinsteiger (@BSchweinsteiger) November 30, 2016
Mourinho of course may still be right, but it was only back in August when the United manager admitted he was more likely to give academy prospects a chance than handing a recall to the World Cup winner.
The United boss had said of Schweinsteiger’s first-team chances: ‘We have a decision completely made about (Paul) Pogba, (Ander) Herrera, (Morgan) Schneiderlin, (Marouane) Fellaini and Michael Carrick (Schweinsteiger’s fellow central midfielders).
‘We have five players for two positions. It’s very difficult that an opportunity will arrive.
‘If we have any kind of problem or any kind opportunity, I have a few young players in the academy that I will be more than happy to give an acceleration in that process and to bring them up now and again.’
Schweinsteiger turned down the chance to move away from the club and through sheer persistence has forced Mourinho’s hand to eventually recall the experienced German midfielder.
Just making the bench for the first time this season against West Ham United on Sunday was an achievement in itself, but he went one better on Wednesday.
With United comfortably leading 3-1 in the second-half, Schweinsteiger took to a warm up on the touchline and was greeted by applause from the United supporters.
There were waves and thumbs up from the midfielder in response but it wasn’t until four minutes from time that he got his chance to step back out on to the Old Trafford turf to a standing ovation.
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