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Final season, not one in all Manchester United’s gamers ranked within the prime 10 within the Premier League for interceptions. To this point this season, three – Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo are all within the prime 5. What does this inform us in regards to the season thus far?
Supervisor Erik ten Hag’s technique at United is to ask strain and exploit transitions. This, to a big extent, means urgent excessive up the pitch, making an attempt to win the ball again rapidly and drive what our American brethren would possibly name a “turnover”.
When employed by the likes of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, transitional soccer seemed precisely that; as an opponent, you haven’t any time on the ball, your defence is put beneath strain as the entire Liverpool staff instantly closed in on you to win the ball again. However at United beneath Ten Hag, it seems to be extra like the nice previous counter-attacking tactic than anything.
This season, Ten Hag appears to have adjusted his type to play a barely extra possession-based recreation (common 52.5% possession vs 50.52% in 23/24). So in principle, shouldn’t the variety of interceptions made by his gamers have decreased reasonably than elevated?
(stats from The Premier League)
One other curious aspect to the stat is that Dalot and Martinez have each been enjoying on the left facet of defence, whereas Mainoo tends additionally to function predominantly on the left facet of midfield, particularly when out of possession. So what’s going on down that left flank that’s resulting in so many United interceptions, and why the emphatic change in comparison with final season?
As a result of change in personnel at centre again this season, with Martinez and De Ligt typically changing slower stars comparable to Maguire, Lindelof and Evans final, a better line of defense may very well be anticipated, which can account for the determine. However United’s line is just marginally increased up the pitch – 44.03 metres up in 24/25 in comparison with 43.54 in 23/24.
(stats from markstats.com).
One factor the determine would possibly inform us is that opposition managers are focusing on the left facet of United’s defence, maybe as a result of Dalot will not be a specialist in that place.
However it could additionally inform us how a lot strain United are beneath usually. Wanting on the stats for groups as an entire, United have made probably the most interceptions in the entire league (88) thus far this season. Final season, they made the eleventh most. They’ve additionally made probably the most tackles (156). Final season, they made the twelfth most.
Ten Hag claims that United are making progress. Actually, many have argued that the poor performances of the defenders are the explanation for United’s lowly 14th place within the league and that it’s unfair guilty the supervisor. However these figures inform a unique story. United’s defence are main the league for interceptions and tackles, so the place would their facet be within the league desk had they not been so profitable in these defensive actions so typically?
We’ve got to ask, why are United beneath a lot strain? Why have United’s defenders needed to make greater than twice the variety of tackles as these of Man Metropolis or Aston Villa? And why are these figures a lot increased this season than they had been final? And the underside line: how on earth can this be an indication of progress?
Featured picture Carl Recine through Getty Pictures
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