Man Utd managed to rescue a point against Premier League strugglers Leeds having been 2-0 down – but it could’ve been more had Erik ten Hag employed better tactics
Man Utd avoided an embarrassing result as they fought back from 2-0 down to rescue a point against Leeds.
United fell behind after just 55 seconds at Old Trafford when Wilfried Gnonto beat David de Gea with a low effort. The manager-less visitors then doubled their lead after the break as Crysencio Summerville’s low cross was diverted into his own net by Raphael Varane.
But Marcus Rashford nodded home Diogo Dalot’s cross to half the deficit before Jadon Sancho found an equaliser to ensure it finished honours even. It could have been more for the Red Devils, however, had Erik ten Hag not made the following mistakes.
Starting Rashford out of position
Marcus Rashford got his side back into it in the second half (Image: PA)
With the form Rashford is in right now, there’s absolutely no way Ten Hag should have moved him from the left wing to the right wing.
He was a passenger in the opening 45 minutes and while Alejandro Garnacho looked promising in his preferred position, it’s hard to argue that Rashford wouldn’t have given Leeds right-back Luke Ayling more problems.
The England man switched back to where he belongs after the break and, shock, got United back into the game with his 11th Premier League goal of the season.
Erik ten Hag was forced to right his wrongs against Leeds (Image: Dave Thompson/AP/REX/Shutterstock)
Not trusting Sancho
Rashford was forced out of position because Ten Hag didn’t want to start Sancho, but that decision would’ve helped the team overall.
And as much as Sancho might not be match sharp, he showed what he could do just 11 minutes after coming off the bench for Wout Weghorst, who was virtually a ghost during his time on the pitch.
It’s about time the Dutchman placed his trust in the 22-year-old, who needs to be shown he’s got a manager behind him who believes he can deliver.
Substitute Jadon Sancho made it 2-2 (Image: Getty Images)
Bringing back Dalot
There’s no doubting Dalot is Ten Hag’s first choice right-back, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka has impressed while he’s been out injured since the World Cup.
Dropping him straight back into the starting XI, against the electric Gnonto of all people, without building up his minutes was a recipe for disaster.
The more defensively sound Wan-Bissaka would have been better from the off and Dalot should have been introduced from the bench instead.
Wilfried Gnonto gave Leeds the lead inside the first minute (Image: Getty Images)
Reacting with subs
While Ten Hag’s team selection put United in the sticky situation in the first place, his changes were ultimately what rescued them.
Moving Rashford back out to the left was obvious but needed, while Sancho’s introduction proved crucial.
The great gaffers won’t always get it right, but they’ll know how to solve the problems at hand – and that’s what separates them from the rest.
source: www.dailystar.co.uk
