Be it with ball possession or without the ball, Manchester United midfielders have failed to match the level of their rivals.
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With the final international break of the season done and dusted, the spotlight will quickly turn to domestic action. There are only a few weeks left to play this campaign, and the tension is palpable. For Manchester United, there is only one target – to finish in the Premier League top four. It might seem to be a straight forward task on paper, but the reality is totally different. Despite possessing a star-studded line-up, United’s struggles have been visible for everyone to see. The Red Devils are out of all the cup competitions and are four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand, in the league.
One of the major problems for the Red Devils has been in the midfield. United have simply lacked the ability to control football matches and it is largely due to their midfielders. Be it with ball possession or without the ball, Manchester United midfielders have failed to match the level of their rivals. This problem was evident during former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s final weeks at United and now interim manager Ralf Rangnick has also struggled to find a proper solution to this issue. With only weeks left in the season, it is imperative for United to find the ideal midfield combination.
Below are the two midfield combinations that Manchester United have used the most in recent times:
These three players can play in a 4-3-3 system or a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ole preferred the 4-2-3-1 formation. Fernandes used to play behind the lone striker in a number ten role, while Pogba and one of Fred or Mctominay will sit behind in deeper midfield positions.
Having Fernandes and Pogba in the same team helps Manchester United create more chances for their frontmen. They both are excellent at finding defence-splitting passes. Any striker would prefer to have them both in the starting line-up.
However, both tend to make forward runs a lot, thereby leaving gaps in the centre of the pitch. This increases the burden on Fred or Mctominay to provide the defensive cover. Hence, it is almost suicidal to play Fernandes and Pogba together in a midfield three against a big side.
Verdict: Could work against smaller sides
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This combination can also be used in 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations. Ole used to deploy Fred and Mctominay in deeper midfield positions while Fernandes will play in front of them in a free No.10 role. However, Rangnick plays them in a midfield three with Mctominay sitting as the deepest of the three, while Fred and Fernandes play on either side of him.
This combination does provide good midfield control, largely due to the presence of Fred and Mctominay. They both provide adequate defensive cover and Fernandes is good with closing down. Together they can help the backline better to nullify the opposition threat.
On the negative side though United might struggle to make more forward passes. As good as Fred and Mctominay have been in defensive, they are not reliable ball players. This results in Fernandes coming into deeper positions to receive the ball, thereby making him slightly less effective in the final attacking third.
Verdict: Could work in big matches
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