It is a new season and a brand new European format, but it was the identical outdated Manchester United on Wednesday evening, with the Pink Devils slipping to a 1-1 draw at residence to FC Twente on their first Europa League outing of the marketing campaign.
Having completed backside of the group in a calamitous Champions League run in 2023/24, Erik ten Hag and co would have been seeking to get getting in a much more constructive trend this time round – though former Rangers man Sam Lammers, aided by first-half goalscorer Christian Eriksen, put paid to that following his scientific second-half strike.
The hosts had taken a deserved lead at Previous Trafford following a thumping end from a resurgent Eriksen on what was his fourth successive begin, though there gave the impression to be an absence of impetus to wish to go and kill the sport off – a undeniable fact that was duly punished.
Having been held to a goalless draw away to Crystal Palace final weekend, United – who’ve missed probably the most ‘large probabilities’ within the Premier League this season – look like missing that leading edge in entrance of aim, with the 7-0 thrashing of League One facet Barnsley maybe representing one thing of an anomaly.
The three-0 victory over a winless Southampton is the one different sport this season through which Ten Hag’s males have scored greater than as soon as, with an answer needing to be discovered to get the attacking unit firing once more, even when it comes on the expense of Bruno Fernandes.
Bruno Fernandes’ efficiency vs Twente
The star man of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson period, Fernandes has so typically been the shining mild in latest instances, having chalked up 149 objectives and assists in simply 241 video games for the membership so far.
Even with 4 assists to his title throughout all fronts this season, nevertheless, the 30-year-old hasn’t fairly regarded like his standard self, notably over the previous week or so, having even misplaced possession on 34 events throughout a grim outing at Selhurst Park.
In what was a largely managed efficiency in south London, the previous Sporting CP star was much more chaotic, seemingly working at odds with these round him.
The identical was true once more on Wednesday night, as he supplied only a solitary key cross from his 76 touches, whereas additionally finishing simply two of his 5 dribble makes an attempt and shedding the ball 19 instances.
That latter metric may be considerably deceptive, because it merely illustrates his need to create and make issues occur for his facet, though at current, nothing is seemingly working in his favour.
Whereas Ten Hag must be a courageous man to oust his captain within the coming weeks, it is actually price contemplating a brand new strategy which might permit the frontline to lastly click on into gear.
Man Utd’s attacking answer
One of many key points going through United is the shortage of a dependable goalscorer to steer the road, with new man Joshua Zirkzee – who has missed 4 ‘large probabilities’ within the league – working much more comfortably in his facet self-styled, ‘9.5’ function.
As MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst said following the midweek stalemate, the Dutchman affords ‘productive link-up play exterior of the field with out trying like scoring contained in the field’, handing Ten Hag one thing of a dilemma over who to pick.
With Rasmus Hojlund now obtainable as soon as once more, the straightforward answer can be a straight swap of the Dane for Zirkzee, but with the latter man having proven glimpses of his innate link-up play of late, it could possibly be time for Ten Hag to strive one thing new as an alternative.
The answer staring the 54-year-old within the face could possibly be to drop Zirkzee into extra of a quantity ten function, with the 23-year-old working in such a berth anyway, whereas the returning Hojlund can then slot in because the main, orthodox quantity 9.
With the previous Atalanta man having solely simply made his return from harm at Palace after limping off in opposition to Arsenal in pre-season, the United boss hasn’t been capable of trial this duo as but, though Fernandes’ limp type might present the proper alternative.
With Zirkzee – who ranks within the prime 16% amongst European forwards for progressive passes – performing because the hyperlink between midfield and assault, the Pink Devils would then have a correct focus in Hojlund to steer the road, with the 21-year-old extra more likely to stretch a backline as he’s “lightning fast”, as per Owen Hargreaves.
Working with two, towering forwards in a frontline could also be a relic of the previous, however at a time when United – who solely scored 57 league objectives final season – are trying blunt in assault, a Hojlund-Zirkzee partnership will be the best approach to sharpen issues up.
Which will characterize unhealthy information for Fernandes, however having relied a lot on the Portuguese playmaker for thus lengthy, the Previous Trafford facet could now must discover a new approach to win.
