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#2 Injuries to key players in midfield
Injuries to Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic in midfield is one of the key reasons for Manchester United's recent slump. During their absence, the Red Devils struggled to play through the middle of the park and were forced to play long balls into the channels for the strikers to chase.
But when both Matic and Herrera were back in the starting 11 against Chelsea, the team looked a totally different side. They knocked the ball around the field with confidence and played some brilliant football, especially in the first half.
Ander Herrera is one of the most underrated players of this Manchester United squad. The Spaniard is calm on the ball and helps the Red Devils to play through the middle of the park. Herrera and Matic in midfield provide Paul Pogba with the license to play further forward, unleashing the best out of him.
The underlying stats show the importance of Ander Herrera to this Manchester United side:
