Luke Shaw says he has “accepted” why he has been dropped by Erik ten Hag and has vowed to be ready when called upon.
11.09.2022 - 12:29 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The Latino-Dutch defence
It feels a trick of the mind that Raphael Varane was, briefly, the fourth-choice centre-back at Manchester United in the summer when there are not three centre-backs on the planet who are superior.
Since Varane was recalled for the uplifting 2-1 win over Liverpool, United have conceded two goals in six hours of football. They have lost all three matches Varane has not started in.
Varane followed his own fitness programme during pre-season when he did not complete double sessions and while Erik ten Hag suggested he had eased him back into the team, the United manager outlined as early as mid-July that Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire would be the starting centre halves.
Also read: Van de Beek has to follow Ten Hag's advice
Ten Hag has changed the makeup of the back four, discarding the Anglo duo of Maguire and Luke Shaw in favour of continental nous in Martinez and Tyrell Malacia. In his analysis of the United squad, Ten Hag noticed a shortage of left-footers and the United defence is more balanced with two righties and two lefties.
Diogo Dalot hoped to improve under Ten Hag and has. The Portuguese communicates with Varane and Martinez in Spanish, English with Scott McTominay and Portuguese with Antony. He has transmitted that cleverness to his game and the United defenders are a more unified unit in the warm-ups, high-fiving ardently. They became more animated when Dalot won a goal kick at Leicester and celebrated by chest-bumping Martinez.
From midfield malaise to mirabilis
The best thing to happen to McTominay was he was dropped for the debacle at Brentford. It ensured a recall against Liverpool and he has since been a vigilant presence, his form improving gradually.
McTominay, an
Luke Shaw says he has “accepted” why he has been dropped by Erik ten Hag and has vowed to be ready when called upon.
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