Man United manager Erik ten Hag has the luxury of options when it comes to picking his midfield this season
Though Erik ten Hag deserved plenty of credit for the respect he showed the domestic cup competitions last season, it was sometimes felt that he approached with too much force.
Ten Hag was livid with the challenge, not least because it meant he had lost one of his most influential players for more than two months. United desperately missed the Dane's orchestrating skills in the engine room. This season, however, he has better options within his midfield arsenal to play with. Whereas last season the Dutchman was restricted to relying on Scott McTominay, Marcel Sabitzer and Fred as back-up, he now has the luxury of other options.
Injury issues have plagued United so far this term, meaning Ten Hag has been unable to discover an ounce of consistency. But with Casemiro, who missed last night's clash with FC Copenhagen through suspension, on the comeback trail after a recent injury problem sustained on international duty, consistency might not be that far away. Kobbie Mainoo is also closing in on a first-team return.
Though it remains to be seen what his strongest midfield trio will be once everyone is fit, with question marks surrounding if he will select two No.6s and a No.10, or a No.6, a No.8 and No.10, it gives him plenty of scope and room for manoeuvre. Talking hypothetically just for a minute or two, the prospect of United drawing a lower-league side in the FA Cup third round in January would mean Ten Hag could deploy a so-called weakened midfield and still have plenty of quality on the pitch.
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