The modern game is not kind to mavericks. Mavericks are, necessarily, a little moody, a bit vague, often ironic, sometimes lazy, frequently cocky — as well as ridiculously talented.
Gone are the days when an attacker could kick his heels for 89 minutes, waiting for the moment the defenders forgot all about him so that he could score a volley from 25 yards. Clearly, I am thinking mainly of Matthew Le Tissier here. The former Southampton forward would be required to chase back and harry these days. There is very little room at the top level for players who are not prepared to work and run, and work some more.
Which is why it was almost breathtaking to see Edinson Cavani with his arms spread in a form of messianic injustice after his goal was ruled out for a minor discretion committed upon Son Heung-min by Scott McTominay. The Uruguay striker looked like the real Poldark, a full-throttle version of the soldier who returns to Cornwall from fighting in the American War of Independence. He made Aidan Turner seem wan and uninteresting.
In that one gesture the 34-year-old was telling the story of a career that began in Montevideo and moved through the feistiness of Palermo, the passion of Naples and the scrutiny of Paris before signing for Manchester United in October last year. For many it was a bit of a joke that for all United’s mooted transfer dreams, they captured the heart of a player considered past his prime and yes, he has suffered too many injuries to be considered an entirely reliable striker, but his class is usually evident when fit.
From the moment Cavani’s goal was disallowed, it was clear he would ditch any claim to the maverick status that a world-renowned striker has every right to call his own and take centre stage. If his legs are failing, as Roy Keane in the open-air Sky studio said they were beforehand, then there was no evidence of it. He became a man on a mission out to crush the fates.
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He set up the first, legitimate, United goal after his effort was parried and he scored the second, his seventh Premier League goal, with a diving, angry header. He even cleared the ball off his own line. His movement was superb to score the goal that never was but, after VAR interfered, his running became feverish and intense.
Cavani may leave this summer. He has expressed, apparently, a desire to return to South America, which would be annoying for his manager. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has, in Cavani, a player after his own heart, one who reacts positively to pressure. Victory over Spurs means that United have won 28 points from losing positions this season, a statistic that is quite ludicrous but indicative of a team who refuse to jump unless pushed. They are the Premier League equivalent of the reluctant hero on the side of the canal who would never dream of springing from the top diving board at the local swimming pool but, faced with a drowning dog, will jump in and save the day.
It is impossible to assess the coaching at United without concluding that Solskjaer’s injury-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final informs much of his approach to life. Once you have achieved the near impossible, become an instant cult figure, life must be humdrum without panic and deadlines and injustices. The VAR incident — in which what would have been the opening goal was disallowed for McTominay’s hand touching the face of Son, followed soon after by the South Korean scoring to give Spurs the lead — acted as the perfect storm for a United team who need external impetus. For Cavani, it created a quiet fury that meant he played like a striker ten years younger, keen to make to make an impression.
If he does depart, it will leave United with yet another transfer-window headache and they will, once again, be linked with Harry Kane. It would be quite a coup if they could sign the Tottenham centre forward but he would not be a direct replacement for the former PSG striker.
Kane is no maverick, he is still improving and works harder than most strikers. His main weakness would appear to be a desire to return to action sooner than his physios would like, so devoted is he to his craft and his team-mates. He has the scoring record of the most egotistical and selfish forwards and yet with each passing game tries all the harder to be a facilitator. His cushioned ball to Lucas Moura in the build-up to Son’s goal was dripping with selflessness. Crucially, he is highly self-motivated and does not need to be pushed into the water. He would alter United’s personality but, in the meantime, they have the brooding menace that is Cavani.
