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In their first Premier League game of the season, Manchester United faced Leicester City at Old Trafford. Starting with a 4-3-3 formation, United played De Gea in goal and Darmian, Bailly, Lindelof, and Shaw in defense.
Fred started his first game at Old Trafford alongside Pereira and Pogba, who captained United on the night, as the three in a dynamic midfield. Ahead of them, Sanchez and Mata started on either side of Rashford, who played as the main striker.
It was United’s strongest team from the players available for selection. Interestingly, Martial and Lukaku started from the bench, both options for Mourinho if he wanted to change things later on.
United took the lead through Pogba, who scored his first Premier League goal of the 2018/19 season from the penalty spot. United then doubled their lead through a fine strike from Luke Shaw.
Leicester pulled one back in the injury time when Vardy capitalized on a defensive lapse to put pressure on United toward the end of the game. However, United held on to their lead and gained their first 3 points of the season.
Even with the win, United did have a few concerns from the game. We take a look at five such areas of improvement, which Mourinho must address before the away game against Brighton and Hove Albion next Sunday.
#5 Darmian was poor
Matteo Darmian played at right back for United against Leicester City, in the absence of Valencia. He made 2 interceptions, the highest among the defenders, and also had an attempt on goal.
However, those were his only high points in the game. He was regularly bullied by Gray and looked like the only weak spot in an otherwise assured defense. He had to attempt 5 tackles, the highest in his team because Gray was easily brushing him aside.
Bailly had to bail him out a couple of times and Darmian also committed a foul, the only foul by a United defender in the game. He also registered the least clearances among the defenders – just three.
Darmian really needs to step up his game before Sunday. He needs to join the attack more often and also get his positioning and placement right. He is not blessed with pace and as such, needs to work on his technique to ensure he is not caught off-guard.
#4 Rashford was ineffective as a No. 9
Rashford spearheaded United’s attack against Leicester City and it was a game to forget for the English teenager. He was on the field for 67 minutes, yet did not attempt a single shot on goal.
On the contrary, Lukaku replaced him and played for 23 minutes, having a shot on target which could have easily been a goal. Rashford’s other two partners in attack, Mata and Sanchez both had an attempt on goal each.
Luke Shaw and Pogba had two, both of which were on target and even Darmian had an attempt on goal. Rashford was full of running and pressing, and even attempted a cross, but it is time now for him to stand up and be counted.
Unless Lukaku starts against Brighton, Rashford needs to do a lot more through the middle. He has a powerful striking ability and he has to put it to good use. He must hold the ball better and he must improve his decision-making abilities.
Most of United’s counter-attacks fell flat when the ball reached Rashford and the youngster needs to build an understanding with his attacking partners pretty soon.
#3 Very few attacks originated through the right side
Luke Shaw and Alexis Sanchez were both menacing on the left. However, the right side of the attack is still United’s weak point.
Both Mata and Darmian are slow, which highlighted a glaring lack of pace on that side of the field. In addition, Mata was drifting in, but Damian was not active on the overlap. The Spaniard had a decent game though and did attempt five crosses, the highest in the team, while Sanchez had three.
To be fair to him, Mata did set up Shaw for the goal, yet it was on one of the many occasions that he had drifted in. On the other hand, the only through ball of the game for United was attempted by Sanchez. Mata and Damian need to contribute more in the attack.
Darmian attempted a mere 35 passes, whereas Luke Shaw on the other side of the field attempted 67. The Italian had 55 touches of the ball, while Shaw had 99. Darmian also did not attempt any crosses in the game.
Mourinho might try to use Rashford on the right in place of Mata, but on current form, it is hard to choose the youngster over the Spaniard and as such, Mata and Darmian, if they start again next week, have to combine better and ensure that the left back and the left wing are both pegged back throughout the game, something that did not happen against Leicester.
#2 United lacked a uniform intensity throughout the game
United started the game strong but lost their intensity after the first 15 minutes. This is a worrying sign because when they come up against stronger and faster opposition, such lack of concentration could allow the other team into the game.
Scoring a goal and holding on for a result is not a tactic that works anymore, it is dangerous and without Shaw's goal, it could have cost United. Leicester had more possession, more touches and even attempted more passes in the game.
United did perform better in the second half, however, Mourinho must be concerned about the inability of the players to hold on to their intensity for longer periods. The competition this season is a lot tougher and not an inch will be surrendered to the opposition without a fight
As such, United must build a habit of maintaining a steady level of intensity throughout the game, and they must do this early on in the season.
#1 Sanchez did not have a shot on target
Sanchez had a strong performance against Leicester, but it comes as a surprise that the Chilean did not have a single shot on target in the game. United attempted eight shots in the game in total and had six of them on target.
Luke Shaw and Pogba had two, while Lukaku and Darmian had one each. The Chilean had attempted one shot, but it was off target. Sanchez had a pretty solid preseason, where he looked menacing through the middle and also scored two goals. Even against Leicester, the Chilean looked sharp and fit.
He started on the left and combined brilliantly with Luke Shaw, notably winning the penalty for United. However, an important aspect of Sanchez’s game is his goal-scoring ability and as such, Jose might be tempted to start him through the middle until Lukaku is fit and shift Rashford to the right.
However, this will not be in United’s best interest for the long run, as Sanchez’s ideal position in the presence of Lukaku is on the left or the right. Right now, United must find a way for him to score goals and it must start against Brighton.
