Although Manchester United’s Premier League campaign has not gotten off to the best of beginnings, Erik ten Hag will now look to the club’s dramatic comeback victory over Brentford just before the break as a turning point.
After making significant summer purchases, United brought in new players with the intention of improving upon their third-place league finish and Carabao Cup victory from the previous campaign.
However, inconsistent play and other problems have made the Old Trafford team, who are currently bottom of their Champions League group after losing both of their opening games, finish in tenth place after eight games.
However, Scott McTominay’s incredible brace against Thomas Frank’s tenacious Bees two weeks ago captured the legendary “Fergie Time” atmosphere that will endure indefinitely at the Theatre of Dreams, regardless of the performance of the home team.
Now, Manchester United will play Sheffield United at Bramall Lane with the possibility of securing their third victory in four Premier League games.
The absolute minimum is to secure three points, and despite a number of injury concerns in the defense, Ten Hag will be confident in his team’s ability to accomplish the task.
What’s the latest on the Manchester United team?
Casemiro has been eliminated from the running after suffering a slight injury while representing Brazil internationally, but Ten Hag said he is “confident” the midfielder will be available moving forward.
As far as the rest of the team is concerned, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon have both been exercising this week after suffering injuries, while Sofyan Amrabat is also available after missing both of Morocco’s most recent games.
This season, the Red Devils have struggled on defense. While Ten Hag is encouraged by more alternatives now, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Lisandro Martinez are still injured.
Amrabat has started the last two Premier League games after joining on a loan from Serie A club Fiorentina on deadline day in August for £8.5 million with the option to sign on a permanent deal for £21 million next summer. However, Ten Hag must now decide whether starting him today over another midfield powerhouse would be the best course of action.
What is the status of Sofyan Amrabat at Manchester United?
Amrabat’s pursuit by Manchester United this summer was widely reported, and despite worries that a deal would not go too far, Ten Hag was able to reunite with his former player (at Dutch club Utrecht) as the negotiations came to a close.
The £65k a week star, who has garnered praise for his performances in recent years, was even dubbed the “best central midfielder in the tournament” by journalist Carlo Garganese after playing a pivotal role for Morocco at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
He is clearly one of Ten Hag’s team’s most measured and composed members, yet he only has a certain set of abilities. While establishing control, they do not nearly advance the play as well as some other Red Devils team phenoms.
Amrabat has been a midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues for the past year, ranking among the top 12% for pass completion, top 10% for attempted passes, and top 14% for progressive passes per 90, but he also places among the bottom 34% for assists and 27% for shot-creating actions per 90, according to FBref.
While Statman Dave claims that the 27-year-old is “perfectly suited to Ten Hag’s Man Utd,” the upcoming game against Paul Heckingbottom’s team could be a great opportunity to unleash Christian Eriksen. FBref compares the player to Arsenal’s Jorginho.
Why should Eriksen kick things off against Sheffield United?
Eriksen has been hailed as a “genius” by Statman Dave and has been one of the Premier League’s best playmakers for the previous ten years.
The 31-year-old, who joined United from Brentford on a free transfer in 2022, has since made 53 appearances, contributing 11 assists to go along with three goals.
The £150,000 per week virtuoso has one goal and one assist in seven games this season, but he has only made three starts in the English top division after coming off the bench the previous three times.
The Danish midfielder has a top 1% assist rate, a top 12% shot creation rate, a top 10% pass attempt rate, and a top 7% progressive pass rate per 90.
While Amrabat boasts an exceptional degree of passing, Eriksen’s potential clearly lies in his ball-playing ability and creativity. Amrabat is more methodical and metronomic in his movement.
United should have little issue managing the tempo of the game against the Blades, who have already found themselves in difficult waters this season. After all, the Blades are the worst team in the league in terms of shots (71) and passes (2,773) this year.
Nothing rules out the prospect of Amrabat and Eriksen thriving in the middle of the pitch, and with Casemiro absent today, this is most definitely a possibility.
But it would make sense to start McTominay against the Premier League’s bottom team after his devastating cameo in his previous game at Old Trafford.
Any outcome other than a victory over Heckingbottom’s team will send the vultures circling. Ten Hag will want to restore the balance and get United, belatedly, up and running for good this season.
Eriksen hasn’t started any of the last three Premier League games, but he has to be unleashed today to give the United team some imaginative life, which will only be beneficial.