As Erik ten Hag walked across the Wembley outfield holding the FA Cup aloft he was satisfied at proving his doubters flawed. Nonetheless, the Manchester United boss couldn’t relaxation.
As a substitute of receiving a lot reward the main focus was as soon as once more on his future. Are you going to remain at Outdated Trafford, Erik? Is that this sufficient to maintain you within the dug-out, Mr Ten Hag?
It seemingly was sufficient. United’s new hierarchy, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, stored him at Carrington however the outcomes have not modified an excessive amount of.
Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui appear like nice captures however their new star of the long run, Leny Yoro, nonetheless sits on the sideline with an damage.
As soon as they’ve a full complement of gamers, it is doubtless they’re going to be a much better outfit. Will that be with or with out Ten Hag? Solely time will inform.
After drawing with FC Twente in midweek, the highlight fell not simply on him however the membership’s captain, Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese is off the tempo and trying to find his greatest kind.
Bruno Fernandes’ season in numbers – 2024/25
The attacking midfielder is so usually the beating coronary heart of this Manchester United staff. Final time period, he scored 15 targets and registered 13 assists in all competitions.
This season might solely be in its embryonic phases however he isn’t hit anyplace close to the degrees we have develop into accustomed to seeing. Fernandes is but to attain and he is equipped simply three assists, of which none have are available league motion.
The nadir of his marketing campaign so far has come during the last couple of video games. Manchester Night Information reporter Samuel Luckhurst handed the Portugal worldwide a dismal 4/10 score for his efficiency within the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace final week. Over the course of the match Fernandes did register a whopping 113 touches however ceded possession a outstanding 34 occasions.
Of his mega contact corridor, he might solely provide two key passes to his teammates as nicely.
|
Fernandes vs Crystal Palace |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat |
Quantity |
|
Touches |
113 |
|
Passes accomplished |
60/83 |
|
Move accuracy |
72% |
|
Variety of occasions possession misplaced |
34 |
|
Floor duels received |
7/9 |
|
Tackles received |
4/4 |
|
Key passes |
2 |
|
Stats from Sofascore |
|
It did not get a lot better in opposition to Twente within the Europa League. Handed one other 4/10 score by Luckhurst he created only one probability of observe, misplaced the ball 19 occasions and received simply seven of his 13 duels.
Chalkboard
Soccer FanCast’s Chalkboard collection presents a tactical dialogue from across the international recreation.
So, what can United do to get extra of a tune from their skipper?
Rasmus Hojlund to the rescue
Since signing from Bologna over the summer season, Joshua Zirkzee has been employed as United’s main man in assault.
He is confirmed flashes of brilliance – scoring on his debut in opposition to Fulham on the Premier League’s opening night time.
Nonetheless, since that magical introduction to life at Outdated Trafford the Dutchman has discovered life troublesome in England, failing to attain throughout his subsequent six video games which incorporates that draw with Twente a number of days in the past and a League Cup thrasing in opposition to Barnsley.
So, a while out of the staff is likely to be good, sure? Rasmus Hojlund earned his first 14 minutes of the season in opposition to Palace final weekend and should now begin a league recreation for the primary time this time period.
Within the phrases of Gary Neville, he is “the actual deal”, within the phrases of Ruben Selles – Hojlund’s assistant coach at FC Copenhagen – he’s a “monster” profile. It is one that might simply assist return Fernandes to his greatest.
Why? Properly Zirkzee has tended to function within the pockets of area the United captain thrives in, dropping deep to try to assist create like a Harry Kane may do. Hojlund then again, runs the channels extra usually and acts as a person trying to find these fluid by way of balls from the membership’s chief creator. Using their warmth maps helps to showcase this actual fact.
The picture above on the left-hand facet is Zirkzee’s warmth map from this season which reveals that his warmest areas are the place you’d sometimes affiliate somebody like Fernandes to work his magic in. On the flip facet (proper picture), Hojlund is way hotter nearer go aim, both on the sting of the world or contained in the penalty field on a extra common foundation. So, the idea is he’d present extra space for the Portuguese within the remaining third.
Like United’s summer season signing, the £85k-per-week Dane remains to be uncooked, he is nonetheless younger and much from prolific however he did develop into his pores and skin underneath Ten Hag final time period, finally ending 2023/24 with 16 targets to his identify, ten of which got here in league motion.
There isn’t a assure he’ll revive Fernandes however it’s a mixture that labored fairly nicely final season. It is time to utilise it once more.