In this modern age of football where records are being broken every now and then (courtesy of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo), new found talent are thrust into the limelight (yes, Kylian Mbappe, we’re talking about you) and older players slowly fading into oblivion, it is pretty common for some players to get lost in the shuffle after few seasons at a football club.
These players that were once received with much fanfare, but found themselves down the pecking order after a new and more exciting talent. When that happens, it is quite difficult for the player to come back and stake a claim for a first team spot.
Even at Manchester United, the biggest club in English football, the same happens quite often due to massive squad overhauls in the past few seasons. But every once in a while, maybe due to a managerial change or a player leaving or just a simple change in tactics/formation, some players find that golden ticket which helps them to come back from the dead.
In a squad comprising of 24 first team players, these five Red Devils have flourished under Jose Mourinho this season.
#5 Marcus Rashford
The youngest player on this list at 19 years of age, Marcus Rashford is as Mancunian as you can get. The English striker broke into United’s first eleven under Louis van Gaal due to injuries to various senior players.
After a blistering start to his Manchester United career, the arrival of Jose Mourinho somewhat cooled down his progress rate. Although his numbers are almost the same as last season, it's his overall gameplay that has caught everyone’s eye.
(Video Courtesy: Rafael Football YouTube Channel)
His blistering pace, runs down the by-line, crossing and link up play with the front three, especially Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard, bodes well for the future. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s long-term injury, the teenage striker may be the man to lead the Manchester United front line – a daunting task – which he looks like he was born to do.
#4 Marcos Rojo
A player of the van Gaal Era, Marcos Rojo has largely failed to replicate his performances for the Argentine national team at Manchester United after arriving from Sporting Lisbon. Often criticised for rash (and potentially career ending) tackling and erratic defending, Rojo has endured a torrid time at United.
Much was said of how Mourinho had to clear out deadwood which included Rojo too.
(Video Courtesy: HiTz XI YouTube Channel)
But the central defender has matured as a player and is finally getting to the grips of the Premier League. Rojo has become a robust defender and with some no-nonsense tackling and has finally come good, even scoring his first goal for United in the process. Fans will hope for his fast recovery after the recent injury against Anderlecht.
#3 Ander Herrera
Much has been said about how N’Golo Kante had led Leicester City and is leading (possibly) Chelsea to two Premier League titles in consecutive seasons. Whereas another similar player at Manchester United is also silently doing the dirty work for them this season.
After David Moyes tried and failed to lure Herrera from Bilbao to Old Trafford, a year later he became one of Louis van Gaal’s first signings. Under the Dutchman, Herrera featured sporadically and largely remained underutilised.
(Video Courtesy: JTG Productions YouTube Channel)
Enter Jose Mourinho and since his appointment as Manchester United manager, Ander Herrera has been his most trusted lieutenant. With 75 interceptions (highest in the league) Herrera has been the perfect midfield destroyer that is a staple of Mourinho teams. His steely displays in the middle of the park against Manchester City, Leicester and Chelsea, to name a few, has allowed Paul Pogba to play the free role he is known for.
Ander Herrera can be best described as a mix of Roy Keane’s passion and Michael Carrick’s eye for a pass. Although it has taken two years for him to settle, the Spaniard is a certainty in Manchester United line-ups for the years to come.
#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The shelf life of a forward player is the least amongst other positions. Usually, when they are on the wrong side of their 30’s, they move to a lesser competitive league to wind down their careers. Well, that does not include Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The self-proclaimed ‘God of Manchester’ came to United on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain and critics were quick to write him off, calling him old and not suited to the rigours of the Premier League.
(Video Courtesy: FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT YouTube Channel)
How he has proven them wrong and with classic Zlatan arrogance! He has played a mammoth 3760 minutes and is currently Manchester United’s top scorer with 28 goals in all competitions, including the winning goals in the Community Shield and League Cup final, and a hat trick against Saint Etienne.
His injury against Anderlecht will keep him out for months and with him not signed an extension with the club, his Manchester United future is still uncertain.
#1 Antonio Valencia
Antonio Valencia was bought from Wigan on the back of a good 2008-09 season for a rumoured fee of £16 million. Starting his career primarily as a right winger, he was shifted to the right back role following a number of injuries to defensive players under Louis van Gaal’s reign.
After two years of acquainting himself to the right back role, it is in this season under Jose Mourinho when he truly embraced the role. His natural attacking instincts combined with a new found solidity in his defensive duties makes him the kind of modern full back every manager wants.
This season, Valencia has often been seen bombing up and down the right flank with much aplomb. With 37 starts in 39 games, he has kept an established right back like Matteo Darmian out of the team.
