Manchester United’s 6-3 loss in the Manchester derby was a crushing blow, but it highlighted one of United’s key problems under Erik ten Hag, a lack of rotation.
After 4 consecutive wins in the Premier League, including games against Arsenal and Liverpool, confidence was high. Manchester City’s brilliance certainly contributed to the Reds’ capitulation on Sunday, but the team selection was unnerving.
It led to a shocking result. Many chose Manchester City to win, for sure. However, the 6-3 scoreline is a favor for United as Anthony Martial added two late goals after Pep Guardiola stripped off his star power at the top.
Manchester United need to play with their best players
One of the problems at Old Trafford in recent years has been the fact that players have been placed in the starting eleven based on reputation. Ole Gunnar Solskjær would have played Marcus Rashford with one leg if he could have gotten away with it. As such, it seems somewhat contradictory to criticize Ten Hag.
The Dutch coach rewarded Scott McTominay for his best form with an extended career with the Manchester United team. This has come at the cost of the summer signing, Casemiro. You have to admire loyalty up to a point. However, in this case it was frankly strange not to play against the Brazilian.
Manchester City is clearly the best team in England, perhaps in all of Europe and the world. Liverpool’s fall from grace left the Blues virtually unopposed. If they don’t win the Champions League this season, then there should be serious questions about Pep Guardiola.
Erik Ten Tag keeps faith with his team after their 6-3 loss to cross-town rivals Manchester City. #MyPLMorning | #MUFC pic.twitter.com/1kuJoGmSTt
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 2, 2022
That said, when you’re up against a team with this much talent, you need to play your best players. Casemiro is not a player who is going to gain game sharpness based on training sessions and minutes off the bench.
The Brazilian needs to find his rhythm on the pitch. For this he must start matches. You cannot adapt to a new team from the bench.
Lack of rotation at Manchester United
The need for a natural holding midfielder at Old Trafford has been clear for a while. Fans have been straining to see their team persist with a double pivot from Fred and Scott McTominay. Casemiro arrived to end that. The Brazilian has been the absolute best in the position for the last three years. He expertly shielded a weakened Real Madrid defense since Sergio Ramos left.
Photo by Catherine Iville/Getty Images
Manchester United’s defense has improved since the arrival of another Real Madrid player, Raphael Varane. He and his newcomer partner Lisandro MartÃnez replaced Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelöf.
You can get away with it if you don’t expertly guard that pair in easier games. Although, Manchester City is not an occasion where you can play without a defensive midfielder.
Kevin de Bruyne had plenty of pocket space between midfield and attack and was able to calmly control the game. His pass opened up the Manchester United defense too much. Also, Diogo Dalot was no match for limiting Jack Grealish.
McTominay and Christian Eriksen were being used as box-to-box players, which is a compliment to their respective work rates. However, such a strategy left United’s defense exposed against the more powerful centre-forward.
Ajax also saw Erik Ten Hag’s lack of rotation
Ajax fans were especially critical of the Dutch manager’s selection choices at points during his period in charge. Ten Hag’s unwillingness to rotate has followed him to Manchester United.
You can’t not adapt game by game in the Premier League. It just won’t work. Manchester United haven’t missed Casemiro in other games, but pragmatism is a must against Manchester City.
The marks of Ten Hag’s early career at United are solid. Losses to Manchester City can happen, but the scale of Sunday’s result was preventable. Casemiro’s period of settlement must now surely come to an end. Erik Ten Hag needs to be more flexible, even if he hasn’t brought him success in the past.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Sportimage
