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Manchester United struggled to manage the tempo and to create possibilities as their Premier League match towards Tottenham Hotspur completed 2-2 on Sunday.
In entrance of latest minority stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, supervisor Erik ten Hag’s strange tactics meant the opposition controlled proceedings whereas the hosts struggled to carry on to the ball.
This season, the supervisor’s directions of attempting to win the ball again increased on the expense of sustained management has meant opposing groups have had the enjoyment of counter-attacking by way of all the center of the pitch.
And the identical occurred at Outdated Trafford as properly, with the midfield of Kobbie Mainoo and Christian Eriksen overrun simply by the North London aspect.
Eriksen struggles in massive video games
The Dane was typically the deepest midfielder, whereas different occasions he tried to press excessive up the pitch, each roles he can not deal with as a result of his extreme lack of tempo.
Against big teams, it is a risk playing the Dane whose passing stays as ethereal as ever, however he simply can not run. Spurs took benefit and the previous Tottenham man hardly had the ball.
In 58 minutes, the 31-year-old had solely 20 touches of the ball, finishing simply 11 passes for an general passing accuracy of 79 p.c.
The Denmark worldwide nonetheless made two key passes however his bodily attributes let him down and he was virtually a passenger at occasions, chasing shadows.
He gained solely 33 p.c of his duels and misplaced the ball 5 occasions whereas fouling the opposition twice (all stats by way of Sofascore).
EtH wants to make use of him in another way
He made one clearance and one deal with and was hardly allowed time on the ball and it was no shock to see the supervisor take away him and convey on Scott McTominay, who had extra touches of the ball in half an hour of motion.
Eriksen can deal with himself when enjoying towards groups who make use of a low block and permit him area and time to select his cross. However towards the groups who prefer to press, the Dane is usually a legal responsibility.
He would possibly survive in a secure midfield three the place others can do the operating for him however on this unusual tactical set-up, Eriksen will at all times wrestle.
The supervisor’s system isn’t serving to issues as it’s inserting far an excessive amount of of emphasis on the deepest midfielder to someway attempt to cease the opposition wave.
Even when the likes of Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez begin video games, not a lot is anticipated to vary primarily as a result of Ten Hag’s insistence on utilizing such a flawed system.
