Edinson Cavani provided an instant impact for Manchester United when played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo against Tottenham Hotspur.
Follow Us
Given the kind of attacking options Manchester United possess, it is easy to forget that they have Edinson Cavani in their ranks too. The Uruguayan is a proven world-class goalscorer even at his admittedly advanced age. However, he is at present a squad player for United.
He served up a reminder of his prowess in the side’s 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. And while it is true that Spurs as of now are not a top side by any means, his partnership with Ronaldo did offer up a glimpse of what United can be.
The build-up. The assist. The finish. ?#MUFC | @ECavaniOfficial pic.twitter.com/a0zrMXHHaS
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 31, 2021
Too often this season, United have not looked like a side. An unkind viewer might argue that United as of now are nothing more than a collection of top class players; and in many ways, they would not be wrong.
But even then, the job of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be to find solutions. And Cavani might very well have provided him with one – even for the short term.
Against Spurs, Solskjaer reverted to a back three with attacking wing-backs and packed the midfield. It was a 3-5-2 in theory, with both Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo up front. Bruno Fernandes played in a floating role just behind them.
One of the reasons this worked so well against Spurs – aside from the fact that Nuno Espirito Santo’s men look a befuddled lot at this point – was because it played to everyone’s strengths.
Ronaldo was given a free role, whereas Cavani’s industriousness ensured the Portuguese’s lack of running was compensated for. Fernandes, meanwhile, could drop back to midfield to fill in the numbers alongside Scott McTominay and Fred.
The defence looked a lot more assured with Raphael Varane taking the lead. And wingbacks Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw did well to get up and down the flanks and fill in when possible.
It might be tempting to think that Cavani wasn’t central to this plan, but he was. Without him being able to link play between Ronaldo and the midfield, the attack might have been disjointed.
And without his harried runs when United were out of possession, United might have looked uncoordinated in midfield and up front. One of United’s biggest issues up front has been the lack of a coordinated press.
With Cavani up front, it does become somewhat easier to attempt to push opponents back – even without a coordinated press, something United still lack.
Of course, this is not the only way United can use the veteran striker’s all-round game to good effect.
Now this isn’t to suggest United should drop Ronaldo and play Cavani instead. But, using Cavani as the attack’s focal point and shifting Ronaldo out left can make a difference too.
As mentioned earlier, Ronaldo is an often static presence up front. He comes with the guarantee of goals but very little else in terms of all-round play.
Cavani, by contrast, is a more complete player. Not only will he link play better, he will look to press and even chase lost causes if needed.
It is also worth noting that Ronaldo’s best work comes alongside industrious strikers. During his first stint at United, the likes of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez covered the ground Ronaldo did not.
At Real Madrid, Ronaldo dovetailed excellently with Karim Benzema, the Frenchman’s movement and work-rate key to accomodating the Portuguese star.
What’s more, he can fit in either with Solskjaer’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation or even a 4-3-3 formation. That isn’t the main issue at hand.
The issue at Manchester United as of now is that they have a lot of players. Probably one or two more than is needed. This problem of plenty is in need of urgent resolution whenever the time comes – preferably January.
The other issue is that United need to both build for the future while focusing on the present. Cavani and Ronaldo, after all, are on the wrong side of 30.
And United’s younger forwards – Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood – are in desperate need of game time. And, for that matter, a gameplan that brings out the best in them.
Greenwood has scored goals so far this season but there remains a feeling he could do more. Sancho’s start to life at Old Trafford has been anything but ideal. And Rashford is back from injury and will need reintegration into the side.
However, the current focus must be on the short-term. The 5-0 loss to Liverpool saw many believe that Solskjaer was on his last legs as United manager.
And while reports of his death proved greatly exaggerated, even he knows that management is a results-first business and little else.
In that search for a short-term boost, Edinson Cavani might well be exactly what Solskjaer – and Manchester United – need.
