After a positive pre-season, Eric ten Hag’s real business begins on Sunday when Manchester United host Brighton at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
The Dutchman is off to an impressive start in the Theater of Dreams, with players responding well to his methods and showing positive signs that the team can implement Ten Haag’s philosophy.
But the real test will come on Sunday when Ten Hag takes on Graham Potter’s side at Old Trafford. The former Ajax manager has many decisions to make in order to win the start of his life at the club.
Den Haag have tested a number of systems and options in pre-season and, given Brighton’s strength, will have some tough decisions to make when choosing their starting eleven and formation.
Considering this, by Metro.co.uk We chose three different ways the Dutchman could field his team against the Seagulls.
Option 1: safety first
Ten Heggie often played in a 4-2-3-1 system on United’s pre-season tour.
This system allows United to press high. Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford can catch defenders when they don’t have the ball. Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot do the same on their opponent’s wings.
The midfield pairing of Freddie and Scott McTominay often complained about the supporters last season, but their tenures are different under Ten Hag and they are not asked to sit as they are under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
In defence, perhaps surprisingly, Ten Hag suggested Harry Maguire as his first choice defender and decided to keep the England star as club captain. Brighton’s strength will no doubt influence Ten Hag’s mentality, and few players in the country can defend the penalty. area, as well as Maguire.
Lisandro Martinez has only made two appearances for the club since making the £47m move from Ajax, but Ten Hug has made more appearances to help the Argentine increase his speed. Maguire is a good partner for Martinez, and his contrasting styles complement each other.
Anthony Martial scored three goals in pre-season, but it was his hard work and dedication that impressed Ten Hag the most. The Frenchman is not known in the industry for him, but he has shown an uncharacteristic willingness to adapt to ten-hug methods and deserves a start from him. There is speculation that he may be out of action, which will damage his hopes of score this season.
Option 2: Return of Ronaldo
Questions about Cristiano Ronaldo’s future have somewhat overshadowed Ten Hague’s preparations for this season, with the press conference dominated by questions about the 37-year-old.
The Dutch player has insisted he wants to work with Ronaldo since his arrival and insists the striker is not for sale despite being asked to leave by the club twice in the last month.
Ronaldo has been absent from United’s pre-season tour. That means he has only played 45 minutes of soccer since the end of the season when he played Rayo Vallecano last week.
Ronaldo is not hopelessly out of shape, but Martial’s injury could force The Hague to sign a player who has only played 45 minutes in pre-season.
If Ten Hag decides to use Ronaldo, he will have to surround himself with his feet. That means the midfield trio of Sami Fernandez, Freddie McTominay, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho will start on the wing no matter what.
Left-back Tyrell Malaysia has shared a place with Luke Shaw since joining from Feyenoord, so it’s no surprise to see the Dutchman make his Premier League debut.
Option 3: All Out Attack
He doesn’t usually take risks, but Ten Heggie could surprise with his selection in midfield on Sunday.
The arrival of Christian Eriksen is impressive, but it raises questions about the system United are playing in this season. Daniel is a traditional offensive playmaker who does the best he can behind the front line. But that is Bruno Fernandes’ position, and given his numbers since he arrived at the club from Sporting Lisbon, the Portuguese is unlikely to lose his place.
An exciting (but dangerous) option is to play both playmakers in a 4-3-3 attacking formation. During his time at Ajax, Ten Hag often paired the two number 8s, allowing Fernandez to play alongside Eriksen in a dovetail role in midfield.
Center back Rafael Varane could come in alongside Martinez and allow United to put more pressure on the pitch than Maguire. The Frenchman has been plagued by injuries since he moved to Old Trafford, but his speed is a valuable asset for a manager like Ten Hag, who has put up a defense that makes him comfortable playing one-on-one.
For more stories like this, visit our sports page .
Follow us for the latest news
Facebook, twitter and Instagram .
Source: Metro
Chad-98Weaver, a distinguished author at NewsBulletin247, excels in the craft of article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a penchant for storytelling, Chad delivers informative and engaging content that resonates with readers across various subjects. His contributions are a testament to his dedication and expertise in the field of journalism.
