This season, Axel Tuanzebe has had to wait for his chances at Manchester United, but he got one today against Wolverhampton Wanderers, which he grabbed with both hands.
This was only the 23-year-fourth old's Premier League start of the season, but he was flawless as United won 2-1.
Tuanzebe won every single tackle he made today, as well as 89 percent pass accuracy, seven recoveries, and seven clearances.
He also made two blocks, though it appeared to the naked eye that he made many more as he got in the way of virtually every threat Wolves mounted against the United goal.
It was reminiscent of the academy graduate's brilliant performance in Paris earlier this season when United pulled off an epic 2-1 victory over PSG in the Champions League.
Tuanzebe partnered Eric Bailly at the back in today's game, and it is expected that United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will select one of them to partner the rested Victor Lindelof in Wednesday's Europa League final against Villareal.
With captain Harry Maguire almost certain to miss out due to injury, Bailly appears to have seniority in terms of filling in for him, but today's masterclass from the former England Under-21 international won't hurt his chances.
Solskjaer is in a similar predicament when it comes to goalkeeping. Should he go with David de Gea, the older, more experienced, and arguably more brilliant player, as his understudy, or Dean Henderson, who is erratic and not a communicator?
The Bailly vs Tuanzebe debate has many of the same characteristics.
Tuanzebe has yet to concede a goal in the Europa League this season, whereas Bailly has conceded four and was part of the defense that allowed three goals against Roma in Italy.
It's a good problem for the manager to have because both players appear to be in good form at the same time.
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