How does Marcel Sabitzer compares to the rest of Man United's mid field

Manchester United's new mid field signing Marcel Sabitzer has promised to be as effective as the play he was brought in to place. However, putting their on field antics into critical view, does the Austrian upgrade the Red Devils mid field department?

Marcel Sabitzer, who was previously was playing his trade with Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich, however he has officially signed with Manchester United on a six-month loan deal. There are questions over what help and experience the 28 year old will offer Erik ten Hag's team. His statistics have been examined to determine this.

After both switching to Manchester United in the summer of last year, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen have developed a strong and formidable midfield partnership.

On transfer deadline day, Manchester United swiftly signed up Marcel Sabitzer after learning that Christian Eriksen will be sidelined until the end of April due to an ankle injury.

Marcel Sabitzer's league statistics from this season using data from Whoscored were evaluated and compared them to Casemiro, Eriksen, Scott McTominay, Fred, and Bruno Fernandes. Van De Beek was put into consideration due to the little playing time he's had this season before being ruled out of the season due to knee injury.

> Ball retainance, dribbles and Shots

Erik Ten Hag gave Fred more freedom to move forward on the pitch, and in 2022–23, he is averaging 2.4 shots per 90 minutes.

The highest goal scorer from this group, Fernandes, has been taking 2.1 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League, closely trailed by Sabitzer's 2.2 shots per 90.

Eriksen averages 1.4 shots per 90 minutes this season while playing in a deeper position for United after formerly playing in attacking midfield for Tottenham and Inter Milan.

Given that Casemiro averages 1.3 shots per 90 minutes and McTominay averages 0.8 shots per 90, it is not surprising that defensive midfielders are at the bottom of this list.

However, when it comes to dribbling, McTominay is in the lead with 1.0 successful dribbles per 90 minutes and a success percentage of 58.8%. With 0.6 successful dribbles per 90 minutes and a 40% completion rate close behind, Fred comes in second.

While Casemiro is on 0.3 per 90 with a little superior completion rate of 37.4%, Fernandes has been averaging 0.5 successful dribbles per game with a success rate of 33.3%.

Both Sabitzer and Eriksen average 0.1 successful dribbles every 90 minutes, however Sabitzer has a 25% success rate compared to Eriksen's 20% completion rate.

The new United player is very good at keeping possession and only loses possession 0.4 times per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga.

In contrast, McTominay and Fred are dispossessed 1.1 times per 90 league minutes, compared to 0.8 times for Eriksen and Casemiro. Fernandes frequently loses control since, in 2022–2023, he is dispossessed 1.3 times every 90 minutes.

> Creativity and Goal Record

Christian Eriksen is the midfielder who has contributed directly to the most goals among the six midfielders. In the Premier League, he has tallied one goal and seven assists, averaging one every 187.3 minutes.

Fernandes is averaging one direct goal contribution per 213.7 minutes this season with eight total (four goals and four assists).

Casemiro has contributed to the Premier League with two goals and three assists despite being a defensive midfielder. During his first season in England, the former Real Madrid star is contributing to a direct goal every 231.8 minutes on average.

Fred has scored in home victories over Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, bringing his minutes-per-goal participation ratio to 287 minutes this season, but has no registered an assist to his name.

For Bayern in the Bundesliga, Sabitzer has recorded one goal and one assist, contributing to a direct goal every 313.5 minutes on average.

Last but not least, despite scoring in both the League Cup and the Europa League, McTominay has yet to score or assist in 749 minutes of top-flight play this year.

> Passes Accuracy and Success rate

In the current season, Sabitzer has been averaging 65.2 passes per 90 minutes, which is more than Casemiro (62.5), Eriksen (57.8), Fred (56), Fernandes (47.8), and McTominay (31.6).

With a success rate of 87.7%, the Austrian international also tops the list for passing accuracy. Fred (82.9%), Eriksen (82.7%), McTominay (81.7%), Casemiro (78.6%), and Fernandes (78.2%) are the individuals that come next.

Out of the six midfielders, Fernandes has been the most inventive, averaging 2.6 critical passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League in 2022–2023. Bruno Fernandes has also completed more through balls per league game (0.5) than Eriksen, Casemiro, McTominay, Fred, and Sabitzer combined in 2022–23 (0.2, 0.2, 0.1, and 0.0).

Meanwhile, Fred presently leads Eriksen (1.5), Casemiro (1.2), Sabitzer (0.9), and McTominay in terms of critical passes made per 90. (0.4).

> How does Marcel Sabitzer's defensive abilities compares to Man United's

Averaging 3.9 successful tackles per 90 minutes this season, Marcel Sabitzer is also committed to playing the middle of the park defense.

That places him ahead of Fred (2.7), McTominay (2.3), Fernandes (2.3), Eriksen (2.3), and Casemiro (4.2), but barely below them all (0.7).

When comparing clearances made per 90 minutes, McTominay wins. Casemiro's 2.7, Sabitzer's 1.3, Fernandes' 1.1, Eriksen's 1.1, and Fred's 0.5 are all outperformed by his 4.1 total.

Additionally, the Scotland international outperforms Casemiro (2.3), Sabitzer (1.1), Fernandes (0.6), Fred (0.6), and Eriksen (0.6) in aerial duels won per 90 minutes (0.4).

Fred tops the pack in interceptions with 1.7 per 90 minutes. With 1.6, Casemiro is second, followed by Sabitzer (1.4), McTominay (1.1), Fernandes (0.7), and Eriksen (0.4). (0.5).

For Manchester United, Casemiro consistently wins free kicks and is rewarded for committed fouls (1.3 per 90 minutes). That places him ahead of Sabitzer (0.4), Eriksen (0.6), McTominay (0.6), Fred (0.8), and Fernades (1.2). (0.1).

Conclusion

Marcel Sabitzer has his own qualities and has something to offer Erik Ten Hag's team, and obviously. Manchester United's emergency recruitment will come handy for the Red Devils whilst Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay reocupates.

Manchester United are lucky Christian Eriksen's injury occured while the transfer window was open, it would have been a big headache and a huge loss to the team as he was the most creative player in the team's mid field this campaign.