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Tactical Improvements in Manchester United Under Eric Ten Hag

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Tactical Improvements in Manchester United Under Eric Ten Hag

From losing his first two matches in charge of Manchester United to winning the first trophy in six years, Eric ten Hag's work as a manager has been quite commendable. Now, Manchester United really looks like a team that can win the Premier League.


The most fascinating part of Ten Hag's managerial capability is that he has a much stronger squad than in previous seasons. For example, players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford, and more are playing exceptionally well.


Of course, he bought some world-class players like Eriksen, Casemiro, etc. But the sudden mentality change in the existing squad is evident. So, in this article, we will discuss certain tactical improvements in the squad you should know before buying Manchester United tickets.


The Impact of Casemiro On the Midfield

Casemiro has proven to be a fantastic addition to Ten Hag's 4-2-3-1 double pivot, where he is typically paired with Christian Eriksen. Since the Brazilian's first Premier League start against Everton in October, United has only suffered one league defeat. In 10 games, they have only given up six goals, three of which came in the 3-1 loss to Aston Villa. In the Premier League, Casemiro is sixth in duels per 90 minutes and 20th in interceptions. Comparatively, in terms of duels or interceptions, no United player finished in the top 30 in the league in 2021–2022. It is impossible to overstate his influence.


Casemiro has made a significant difference for United when they are not in possession of the ball thanks to his abilities to disrupt play, stop counterattacks, commit tactical fouls, hold opponents and slow their progress, and win the ball back. So, if you are looking for Manchester City travel packages, keep this point in mind.


Varied Movements in Midfield

In comparison to the start of the 2022–23 season, United's deeper build-up has significantly improved with the double pivot of Casemiro and Eriksen. Ten Hag appears to be okay for now, with his team not controlling possession. But he has made sure they are more effective in their build-up. So they can take advantage when they do have the ball. United possessed 62% and 65% of the ball in the first two league games of 2022–23 against Brentford and Brighton, yet lost both contests 2-1 and 4-0. They won all four of the next games despite having less than 52% of possession. Now, when United loses the ball in the middle of their intricate build-up, Casemiro has provided a much-needed safety net. So, if you are looking for Manchester United tickets, keep this point in your mind.


Fernandes and Eriksen Midfield Flexibility

Eriksen will drop back with Casemiro in the double pivot, but when United has the ball, he will occasionally play more like a number eight. As a result, Casemiro has more space, and his teammates, who are positioned deeper, have another option for forward passes in the middle of the field. As a consequence, Ten Hag's United play more vertical passes, and they transition from the back to the front more swiftly and effectively. When Fernandes dives in to receive, the front three will maintain their height and exhaust the opponents.


Eriksen may temporarily fill in as the number 10 between the lines when Fernandes slips deep like this, especially if Rashford is playing up front or if Martial hasn't yet dropped. Fernandes and Eriksen have been essential to United's improved offensive approach when they are in the final third. It has been very helpful for them to know when to play both number-eight positions at once and change the team's formation to a 4-3-3, and Eriksen also knows when he needs to play the double pivot. So, keep this point in your mind while looking for Manchester City travel packages.


Author Bio

The author is a diehard fan of Manchester United and has visited Old Trafford numerous times. In this article, he has highlighted three tactical improvements he noticed in the United squad under Eric ten Hag. So, if you are looking for some useful information on this topic, make sure to read the full article!

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