Erik ten Hag will be considering solutions to improve Manchester United’s dismal away record, and a change in strategy could be in the works.
When Manchester United resumes play the following weekend, they will be under pressure after two losses in their first four games.
Erik ten Hag has had a difficult start to the season, which was made even worse by the shocking loss to Arsenal just before what seems like a protracted international break.
In the first few weeks of the season, no team can win the Premier League, but several teams can theoretically lose all possibility of doing so. Many United supporters will already have abandoned any sliver of optimism they may have had for a victory in the top division this time.
With losses at the hands of Tottenham and Arsenal, United’s dismal road record has continued this season, and things won’t get much better with a trip to Bayern Munich later in the month.
Ten Hag is undoubtedly considering ways to improve United’s dismal away record right now if they are to have any chance of ever seriously contending with the greatest teams in Europe.
The answer may lay in how United approaches these games, and a little modification in strategy may be the secret to a successful turnaround in their fortunes.
Andre Onana has had a consistent first year at his new club, and it is immediately obvious how crucial he is to a play style that emphasizes playing out from the back.
A back-four consisting of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw is favored when they are all fully fit, so there doesn’t need to be any adjustments in front of him either.
Long-term, it is evident that United needs a more reliable young center back, and there is interest in eventually bringing in a second right back.
The midfield formation would be the biggest alteration. The most successful tactics United has adopted in recent years have been more conservative ones that center on counterattacking their opponents and forcing them into mistakes.
It’s a necessary template, but one that may be improved moving forward with a few adjustments. While it would be silly to overlook the benefits of playing on the break, there should be a desire to create a balance and be equally dangerous when teams are winning games.
Given the defensive and offensive skills they possess, using Sofyan Amrabat alongside Casemiro, who was signed in the summer, looks like a viable choice. Ten Hag has already made this suggestion.
Last season, United also had success using Bruno Fernandes in a wide position. However, Mason Mount also appears well-suited for the position and has the potential to become an important part of their big-game strategy.
The added benefit of this choice is that Fernandes and Mount could switch places at any time, giving their options a new dimension and a deeper level of complexity.
Marcus Rashford’s best position is now without question, and he has a history of producing well when used as a left winger against stronger opposition.
Rasmus Hojlund’s arrival, who completes the lineup because he is the only naturally born center forward at the club, may make him even more dangerous. Even in his brief cameo against Arsenal, it was evident that he had a lot to offer—whether it be his ability to move, play in links with others, or really score goals.
When fully fit, there is hope that he will completely change the team, and all of the other attackers will undoubtedly profit from playing alongside someone with such a strong presence in the forward line.
Given that five of the players mentioned are now dealing with various health issues, a lot could rely on United’s injury situation following the international break.
However, there are still many reasons to be optimistic for the remainder of the season, and when everyone is fully fit, United may have a team that is capable of defeating anyone.
United XI: Shaw; Casemiro, Amrabat, Fernandes; Mount, Rashford, and Hojlund; Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, and Martinez.
