Four issues Erik ten Hag received proper as Man Utd depart it late to beat Aston Villa
Manchester United made it 4 wins on the bounce after edging previous Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Goals from Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay cancelled out Douglas Luiz’s strike to maneuver the Red Devils to inside six factors of the highest 4 and inside 5 factors of fifth-placed Villa.
United had been underneath the cosh for a lot of the sport, and Unai Emery’s facet will really feel a bit of laborious completed by to have walked away with nothing, but it surely was nonetheless a promising night for the Red Devils, with victories over their European rivals one thing of a rarity this season. Here, Daily Star Sport runs by the issues we really feel Erik ten Hag received proper on the market tonight.
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Genius late tweak
After Villa’s thoroughly-deserved equaliser on 67 minutes, Ten Hag hooked Marcus Rashford for Scott McTominay. Initially, it regarded like a destructive change, but it surely was the tactical tweak United wanted to wrestle some momentum again.
Emery’s males had spent many of the second half in management, however McTominay’s introduction helped shore up United’s midfield and calm issues down, each on the pitch and within the stands.
As such, United had been in a position to catch their breath, regroup and seize a late winner. And guess who received it… Scott McTominay.
Faith in Hojlund
(Image: PA)
This is not essentially one thing Ten Hag received proper immediately, however Hojlund’s current kind is the product of his supervisor’s continued religion, regardless of the Danish worldwide’s woeful begin to life at Old Trafford.
Hojlund opened the scoring with an instinctive close-range end after reacting quickest to a Harry Maguire knockdown from a nook. It means he is now scored in every of his final 5 matches, and the 20-year-old is oozing confidence.
It’s straightforward to overlook in hindsight however Ten Hag had loads of alternatives to drop Hojlund earlier within the season, and he is now reaping the rewards of sticking by teenager by the storm.
Maguire again in
(Image: PA)
Injuries to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have wreaked havoc with Ten Hag’s backline this season. All 5 of his centre backs have gotten look ins, which implies he had an essential choice to make after Martinez hobbled off towards West Ham final week.
He opted for the much-maligned Maguire, over doubtlessly extra dependable choices in Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans, however his choice was justified inside minutes with Harry taking part in a key position in United’s opener and offering some much-needed metal towards Villa’s extremely busy ahead line.
Sure, the Englishman has discovered his toes a bit of this season after a few completely dire campaigns, but it surely was nonetheless a courageous name by Ten Hag, and one he completely nailed.
Overall choice
(Image: Manchester United through Getty Imag)
These days, squads are so deep and accidents so prevalent that there are all the time one or two key requires a supervisor to make on match day. But for the third recreation operating, Ten Hag performed a blinder selection-wise.
Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo look effectively balanced within the pivot, Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are excellent foils for Hojlund up high, and even the backline seems to be surprisingly settled given the quantity of occasions United defenders have been crocked this season.
For the primary time since Ten Hag took over in 2022 there appears to be a first staff, and that’ll do wonders for rhythm and confidence going ahead.
