Manchester United's injury woes this season have not necessarily affected the results needed from games, but they have reflected on how they play.
It's a no-brainer how Erik Ten Hag has managed to grind out results despite the absence of some key players from the team. He traveled with a team missing seven major first-team players to Spain for the Europa League play-off on Thursday and almost got away with a win at Nou Camp.
Erik Ten Hag has excellent tactical nous and isn't scared to make changes when needed in order to grind out results; his ability to improve players' versatility is one of the reasons he has been getting results from games.
It was a shock to Old Trafford faithful when he started Luke Shaw and Casemiro in a makeshift defense against Burnley, but fans could understand it was due to the unavailability of first team players who were still in Qatar participating in the World Cup tournament. However, he has consistently played the left back at center back in six more games since then, with the England international also paying back the manager for his trust in him with an excellent performance in his new role.
He played the number 23 at center back even in big games, like the Manchester derby second leg and recently against FC Barcelona; this former Ajax boss isn't just your average coach.
Last Sunday, when the Red Devils played at Elland Road, the Dutch tactician made another tweak that broke a resilient Leeds United and their fighting spirit. Winter loan arrival Wout Weghorst, who was brought in for fitness struggles with Anthony Martial, was used as a secret weapon against the Yorkshire club. This tactical change worked, as Manchester United scored four times within 10 minutes; however, they were unlucky to have two of those ruled out as offsides.
A clash with Barcelona was expected to be a game to be approached with a lot of caution, but Erik Ten Hag has something unusual on his mind: that tweak against Leeds United. As the referee blew his whistle to signal kickoff, Wout Weghorst moved into a number 10 role, Bruno Fernandes shifted to the right flank, Jadon Sancho on the left flank, and Marcus Rashford assumed the Netherlands international striker's role.
It proved too much for the Catalans to contain the Red Devils each time they broke away in attack.
Wout Weghorst has only netted once in nine games since his arrival. Well, much should not be expected from the Burnley man, who is not a natural goal scorer. His lack of pace and a little sluggish nature on the ball have frustrated fans so far. However, he is offering something else while he is on the pitch.
While Man United's fans will prefer the electric pace, terrific dribbles, and playing style of Anthony Martial, Wout Weghorst is giving Erik Ten Hag the ability to show off his tactical side and influence games from the sidelines.
Wout Weghorst has started using his build-up and striker's hold-up play to get Man United's players into better attacking positions, and his link-up play has also been great, as evidenced in the build-up to Alejandro Gernacho's goal against Leeds United on Sunday. The 30 year old was unlucky not to have given the Red Devils the lead against Barcelona in the first half after he was put one on one with Ter Stegen by Bruno Fernandes.
Yet still, he was quietly one of the players that has helped Man United get better as a team. Erik Ten Hag couldn't dismiss the player's importance during his postmatch interview after the stalemate at the Nou Camp on Thursday night.
"It's more tactical, but also to get some other players in good positions in the whole front three: Bruno, Rashy, and Jadon," Ten Hag told BT Sports. "But also to get a good press going, and I think the plan worked well."
He also stated that it's the team's success that matters, but it requires all hands on deck.
"Other players can score: Bruno, Jadon, they can score as well." Of course, they can score as well, and they will score. But in the end, it doesn't matter who scores, but in such a game, when you create five or seven 100% chances, you have to finish those more, and it's quite clear."
Erik Ten Hag went ahead to stress that it was a mistake that cost the Red Devils' victory at Nou Camp.
"It had nothing to do with being brave," Ten Hag stressed. "The formation is no good, and scanning is obviously also no good; it had nothing to do with bravery; it was a mistake, especially from that formation."
"He (Casemiro) could have done better, but it is a team." "I talk about the formation—the formation is not good, and that is why the mistake is coming," he explained.
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