Manchester United Have Changed Their Approach, Erik Ten Hag Is Learning
Manchester United are showing key signs of improvement under Erik ten Hag, and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before things turn in the right direction for his side. The Dutch manager has switched things up since the Liverpool defeat, abandoning some of the approaches that left the eleven on the pitch vulnerable against Arne Slot’s team and not pushing his full-backs quite so high in the initial build-up phase, which is making the team a lot more solid.
Diogo Dalot has been key to this. The Portuguese midfielder is shuffling into central areas in buildup, allowing Manchester United to build in a 3-2 set, with Noussair Mazraoui dropping into the back three at times in possession. It’s a structured build-up. It’s a lot harder to break down if United do turnover possession to the opposition, and situations such as the scenarios that happened during the Liverpool fixture are happening a lot less due to that.
Another key difference is the appreciation for possession in central areas. Christian Eriksen has been brought in for Casemiro, with Kobbie Mainoo dropping into the six role. That balance in central areas has allowed United to keep possession for longer and more sustained and intense periods, which has shown an uptake in the amount of chances the side has created.
The Zirkzee Factor:
Yesterday was a key example of this. Joshua Zirkzee’s facilitation role was pivotal to the function of United’s attack, particularly for Alejandro Garnacho, who darted in behind the Palace back line twice and was stopped by Dean Henderson and the woodwork on two separate occasions. It’s something United have clearly practiced. That false nine facilitation, similar to the way Anthony Martial used to drop into pockets in the past, is clearly the most effective form of Ten Hag’s style of play. His Ajax sides utilised a similar type of style with Dusan Tadic, and it’s clear at United that Zirkzee will be pivotal to raising the scoring returns of both Garnacho and Rashford.
Amad Diallo’s presence was also key. The ability to be able to hold the ball in the final third, with again that appreciation for possession is a key factor in building attacks. You need to ball to sustain pressure, and you more often than not need pressure to win a game. Amad brings that calmness into the final third that Ten Hag’s side have lacked, and it’s a welcome addition to an attack that is truthfully showing major signs of promise.
United Defensive Line Changing:
At the back, the Reds claimed their third clean sheet in a row and their fourth of the season in all competitions. They are conceding 10.5 shots per game, 9 less than what they conceded per game last season at 19.5 shots per game. The structure is solid. The defensive line is higher, and the chances conceded per game are certainly dropping. Matthijs De Ligt has been imperious in a United shirt, and the pace and aggression of both the Dutchman and Lisandro Martinez have allowed United to shift that line ever so higher and trap Palace in their own half for large periods of the game.
It’s far from a perfect system, but it is a promising one. This is not the doom and gloomy performance level United fans became accustomed to last year. This is a different system, a different team trying to achieve different things. In four of their five games this season, United have looked promising. The Brighton game is one they should have won, but in the end they were punished for not taking their chances. The Palace game was one they definitely should have won, but thankfully they weren’t punished for not taking their chances.
Even in the Liverpool game, as poor as the result looked, there was promise in that performance, spoiled by missed chances again and individual errors. This is a team to be excited about. A side with youthful exuberance with a manager that does, contrary to belief, understand football more than anyone who criticizes him or anyone who says they know more than him.
It will click. Even if it doesn’t end up clicking under Erik ten Hag, he’s put the team in a position now that no matter who’s in charge, eventually it will click. And when it clicks, it’s going to explode.
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