Sundaymail Editor
Manchester United’s midfield has played a big part in the recent resurgence by Erik ten Hag’s side, but it is absolutely crucial he gets that area right at Etihad Stadium today.
Ten Hag has to decide whether he keeps both Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes in there against Manchester City, or chooses a more defensive-minded set-up and goes with two proper holding players this time.
With a player as good as Casemiro waiting in the wings for his first league start, the temptation must be to partner him with Scott McTominay to give extra protection to his defence.
But if Ten Hag does that and leaves one of his more creative players out, then if United lose he will be asked why he changed a winning team and did not go for it more.
Ten Hag will probably stick with Eriksen and Fernandes because of how well they have been playing but, if he does not change anything and loses, then he will face similar questions. United’s dilemma has partly been created by Scott McTominay’s brilliant form, on top of Eriksen and Fernandes’ performances.
McTominay has been sitting deeper, alongside Eriksen, in a defensive role and has done so well that he has kept Casemiro out of the team since he signed from Real Madrid in August. People already knew McTominay had the athleticism and the energy for that position, but what has really impressed is the discipline he has shown too.
The amount of balls he has cleared in his own box has been phenomenal.
He is tremendous at spotting danger and getting back to help his centre-halves.
Midfield is clearly a key area in any game, but even more so when you play City – firstly because of their superb quality, but also the amount of possession they have.
When you go to Etihad Stadium, you are always going to be doing more defending than attacking. And if you are constantly defending for long periods, you have to be in a defensive mindset – which is not the case with Eriksen or Fernandes.
You could argue the same about Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva for City, too, but because they will have so much possession today, they will spend far less time defending.
Also, De Bruyne and Silva have been playing for Pep Guardiola for a number of years now and their defensive capabilities have got better and better.
In particular, the pressing and tracking of runners that Bernardo does is just exceptional for a player of his quality.
But even if Eriksen and Fernandes could match that side of their game, United will have much less of the ball and will need more midfielders in there who are defensive-minded nearly all of the time.
However, United set up, it is going to be very difficult for them to keep City out.
Erling Haaland is at the very top of his game, and seems to score in every game he plays, but they are not just reliant on him.
The whole City team look comfortable with the way they are playing, and they will have too much for United.
They will find a way through because they have got creativity all over the pitch.
To get something out of the game, United will probably have to score first and then defend brilliantly.
What helps United’s chances is the positivity around them at the moment.
Ten Hag has had the intelligence to see what their strengths are and also what they can’t do at the moment – they play out from the back now far less than they did when they lost their opening two games of the season.
The turnaround since then has been incredible. — BBC
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu