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Louis van Gaal's Manchester United endured an indifferent start to the season as the Red Devils struggled to offer a consistent challenge to the top teams.After managing just three victories in the opening 11 encounters, the Red Devils put on a good run by winning five consecutive Premier League games. The victories against Arsenal (away), Southampton (away) and Liverpool (home), were the stand out results, even though they weren't convincing performances.Then United again went through another inconsistent run of form. Up until March, they managed to win two league games in a row just once when they beat Queens Park Rangers (away) and Leicester City (home) in January.After losing to Swansea at the end of February, United's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League suffered a massive blow. So just when the Reds fans were praying for a miracle, they got one as the 20-time league champions are now on an unexpected and convincing six-game winning run.Unlike the streak in November, this time the Reds have managed this run by dominating their opponents to remind everyone about the old Manchester United. Let us look at the five key factors which have played a major role in this great run:
#1 A settled formation
After Louis van Gaal took charge of the club, the Dutchman tried to change the club’s tradition by ignoring the usual 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 the team was used to playing and started the season with the controversial 3-5-2 system.
As the plan backfired, he then switched to a 4-2-2-2 (diamond) formation to a 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-4-1, before again going back to the 3-5-2.
In this period, the Reds were struggling to find momentum due to repeated changes in the tactics. After trying and testing every option, the Dutchman finally went back to the 4-3-3 formation, which is the formation he found great success with at Barcelona and Ajax. After initial struggles, the Reds have finally found their feet in this formation.
The first two victories against Sunderland (home) and Newcastle United (away) in the six-game winning run did not convince many. However, only after the commanding and dominating display against Tottenham Hotspur was everyone convinced that 4-3-3 was the formation to go forward with. United followed that with impressive victories against Liverpool (away), Aston Villa (home) and Manchester City (home).
Since Van Gaal knows the formation like the back of his hand, he found it easy to send his message across to the players about their specific roles. Moreover, the players also benefited a lot because of a succession of matches with the same formation, which invariably helped them to produce this great run.
#2 Wing-play has helped restore the United of old
At the beginning of his reign, Van Gaal ignored the wide players in the squad. It prompted the likes of Nani and Zaha to move out on loan for regular first-team action. Even when he played the wide players, the Dutchman used them in unnatural positions.
Angel Di Maria was played as a midfielder or even a striker and Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia were made to fill the full-back or wing-back positions. United, who are traditionally known to build attacks from the flanks, struggled to play efficiently without the support of wingers, which didn't help the team create many chances.
After rarely using wide players in their position, Van Gaal made a surprising change in the FA cup Round of 16 encounter, when he replaced Radamel Falcao and brought Ashley Young on at the hour mark. United, who were then losing the match 1-0, switched from a 4-4-2 (diamond) to a 4-3-3. With Rooney up on his own, Di Maria and Young were on the right and left flanks respectively.
The result was immediate as Young played a crucial role just five minutes after coming on to help Herrera equalise. Then he set up Fellaini with a beautiful cross for United's second and Rooney added a third from a late penalty. What was noticeable was the immediate improvement made by the team after switching to a system with wingers.
Van Gaal did not straight away switch to wing play as he gave his diamond formation one last try the following week against Swansea City. After United lost the game, the Dutchman concentrated purely on building the attack from the flanks.
It has produced great dividends as the likes of Juan Mata and Ashley Young, who have been occupying the right and left flanks in the present formation have been on top of their game, and the club has been playing their best football of the season. Mata has scored thrice and set up one goal, while Young has scored twice and set up two goals in this fantastic run.
#3 Central midfield pairing finally identified
Retaining the ball is the most important aspect of Van Gaal's philosophy, but United struggled to do it efficiently initially as the Dutch manager was unable to find his best midfield pairing.
The Dutchman tried various partnerships in the middle of the park with Blind-Herrera, Blind-Fellaini, Carrick-Fellaini, Carrick-Blind and even Carrick-Rooney in the game against Crystal Palace. But, none gave the results or performances the Dutchman craved for. Hence, he finally opted to pair Herrera with Carrick.
Herrera did not enjoy regular playing time under the Dutchman this season due to his inability to keep possession better. In fact, he went on to start just one league game between October 20 and February 21. However, after impressing in the FA Cup matches, the Dutchman finally gave Herrera his chance and the Spaniard took it with both hands.
Also with Carrick injured, Herrera was asked to partner Blind in the middle of the park in the games against Swansea, Sunderland and Newcastle. Despite being consistent, his place was not fixed in the squad.
Hence, when Carrick returned, many anticipated Herrera to lose his place, but surprisingly, Van Gaal retained him in the squad and instead moved Blind to the left-back position.
The very first match with the pair in midfield proved successful as United dominated Tottenham Hotspur in the first half to produce arguably their best performance of the season.
With Carrick sitting deep, Herrera had the freedom to venture forward regularly. Also, Herrera did not ignore his defensive duties as he regularly tracked back to help his midfield partner.
After seeing their wonderful chemistry, Van Gaal stuck with the same pair and the results have been great as United went on to win three more games against Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City, to firmly cement themselves in the top four positions.
#4 Wayne Rooney playing as the lone striker has helped United dominate
In many ways, Robin Van Persie's recent injury has been a blessing in disguise for United. Van Persie’s last start for United was in the defeat against Swansea. The next week, Van Gaal started with Rooney and Falcao for the game against Sunderland, but that was the last time the Reds played with two strikers.
After Falcao was replaced in the Sunderland match, the team are yet to start a game with two strikers on the pitch. Allowing Rooney to play up-front on his own has helped the club get more goals and most importantly, it has allowed United to have an extra midfielder in the starting line-up to dominate the middle of the park.
When playing Rooney up-front, Van Gaal has played Marouane Fellaini in an advanced role. The Belgian bombs forward into the box, helping link-up play whenever United have possession and when the Red Devils lose it, Fellaini drops back to support his midfielders to offer an extra body in the middle of the park.
This has allowed United to have an extra body in attack and an extra player in the middle of the park while defending. Hence, they were able to solve the problem in both the areas of the pitch.
United were often considered to be weak and light-weight in the middle of the park. Hence, when playing with a lone striker, the Reds were able to field another midfielder, thereby crowding the middle of the park. As a result, Van Gaal was able to accomplish his task of retaining the ball as long as possible to dominate his opponents.
#5 Opponents have been unable to solve the Fellaini puzzle
It’s funny to think now that Marouane Fellaini, who was criticised a lot, even by United fans, has turned into a regular first-team player for the Reds in the space of a year. In fact, now fans are believed to be more confident when Fellaini starts, as the big Belgian offers qualities that no one else does.
Fellaini was on the verge of joining Napoli last summer, but his late injury prevented the move from materialising and he stayed. After producing impressive performances against West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea in October, following his recovery from the pre-season injury, the midfielder has maintained his place in the team.
At the turn of the year, the manager used the Belgian international as a Plan-B. Whenever United needed a late goal, the Dutchman introduced him and went route one, and that paid off to an extent as United secured an unlikely late equaliser at West Ham as Fellaini's nod down was tucked in by Daley Blind.
Lately though, Van Gaal has tasked the Belgian with a dual role. He expects the midfielder to be part of the attacks down the left flank, linking up with Blind and Young while also asking him to move into the opposition box whenever United are attacking. In defence, he is expected to track back and help his team try and stop the opposition’s most explosive player, like Yaya Toure against Manchester City.
Even though it involves a lot of responsibility, the Belgian has so far been up to the challenge. Fellaini has used his huge physical presence to bully opponents off the ball and he uses his height to the maximum advantage to win aerial battles.
In the matches against Liverpool and Manchester City, Fellaini's huge presence and tireless running helped United dominate their opponents' midfield and clinch great wins. Moreover, opposing managers have been struggling to come up with a plan to stop Fellaini from exerting a huge influence in the game.
Not long ago in the 3-0 humiliation against City, the blue fans who ridiculed Fellaini to the point of cheering when he wasn't sent off after aiming an elbow at Pablo Zabaleta's neck have been silenced by the Belgian's influence in the weekend. Not just the fans but he has silenced many people, infact in recent weeks, Fellaini has remained the puzzle which the opponents have been unable to solve.
