Solskjaer now knows how to solve Utd playmaker problem following Partizan win
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It's not been difficult to spot Manchester United's problem this season. The issue has been fixing it. While there has been the odd defensive disaster this side simply haven't created enough chances and haven't scored enough goals.
The forwards have come in for criticism and clearly Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial aren't the most reliable of finishers in front of goal. Both scored against Partizan Belgrade, but both missed good chances as well. This was a 3-0 win that could have been double that.
But it was a rarity for United this season because of those chances created. There's no question that this side lacks a playmaker, a midfielder capable of breaking down a packed defence, but the squad also includes somebody once mentioned as one of the very best No. 10s the Premier League has seen.
Football has developed so quickly in recent years that at the age of 31 Juan Mata already feels like an anchronysm. The theory is that the game has moved on from players such as Mata. It's all about pace and physicality now. Even the silkiest of playmakers need a ferocious work rate, with the speed to press the opposition. Neither of those are Mata's strength, but in this victory he showed that players of his ilk might not be extinct just yet.
This was Mata's best night in a United shirt for a long time. It was no surprise that it came behind United's most balanced front three of the season, where the movement was non-stop. Give Mata a pass to find and the Spaniard will rarely let you down.
There's certainly an argument to be made that Mata's gifts are more suited to the prosaic pace of the Europa League. Throw him into a Premier League and the action will unfold around him. He becomes peripheral and his talents are lost.
But against Partizan Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might just have seen a blueprint that might allow him to solve United's creativity problems. Not only did Mata have options to pick outcomes, but he had two energetic midfielders behind in Scott McTominay and Fred. This wasn't the Brazilian's best night but he has begun to settle into the rhythm of English football recently and the tenacity he has shown alongside McTominay recently could give Mata a greater platform to play.
The concern for Solskjaer will be the injury that led to McTominay's early withdrawal, but if that partnership could be reprised against Brighton this weekend then it might make sense to give Mata the chance to influence a Premier League match in the way that he took control of this fixture.
Mata's four Premier League starts this season have resulted in a victory over Leicester City, a draw at Southampton and defeats to West Ham and Newcastle. But this is the first time he's begun behind an attack containing Martial. The Frenchman has been the missing link for United during his injury. His presence as a central striker, with Rashford drifting from the left and Mason Greenwood from the right, increased the passing routes open to Mata.
In terms of movement this was perhaps United's best attacking performance since the opening day of the season and Greenwood can't be far off a Premier League start, although it would be harsh on Daniel James.
Creating chances could be a challenge once again this weekend, when Brighton will come to Old Trafford and no doubt look to deny United the space to run in behind and use the blistering attacking pace they possess. But that should increase the space available to United's playmaker and as Mata proved against Partizan he can exploit that.
His appearances in the Premier League have tended to end in frustration this season, but there's no doubt he's United's best No. 10 and this might have given a template for Solskjaer to get the best out of him.
It's not been difficult to spot Manchester United's problem this season. The issue has been fixing it. While there has been the odd defensive disaster this side simply haven't created enough chances and haven't scored enough goals.
The forwards have come in for criticism and clearly Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial aren't the most reliable of finishers in front of goal. Both scored against Partizan Belgrade, but both missed good chances as well. This was a 3-0 win that could have been double that.
But it was a rarity for United this season because of those chances created. There's no question that this side lacks a playmaker, a midfielder capable of breaking down a packed defence, but the squad also includes somebody once mentioned as one of the very best No. 10s the Premier League has seen.
Football has developed so quickly in recent years that at the age of 31 Juan Mata already feels like an anchronysm. The theory is that the game has moved on from players such as Mata. It's all about pace and physicality now. Even the silkiest of playmakers need a ferocious work rate, with the speed to press the opposition. Neither of those are Mata's strength, but in this victory he showed that players of his ilk might not be extinct just yet.
This was Mata's best night in a United shirt for a long time. It was no surprise that it came behind United's most balanced front three of the season, where the movement was non-stop. Give Mata a pass to find and the Spaniard will rarely let you down.
There's certainly an argument to be made that Mata's gifts are more suited to the prosaic pace of the Europa League. Throw him into a Premier League and the action will unfold around him. He becomes peripheral and his talents are lost.
But against Partizan Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might just have seen a blueprint that might allow him to solve United's creativity problems. Not only did Mata have options to pick outcomes, but he had two energetic midfielders behind in Scott McTominay and Fred. This wasn't the Brazilian's best night but he has begun to settle into the rhythm of English football recently and the tenacity he has shown alongside McTominay recently could give Mata a greater platform to play.
The concern for Solskjaer will be the injury that led to McTominay's early withdrawal, but if that partnership could be reprised against Brighton this weekend then it might make sense to give Mata the chance to influence a Premier League match in the way that he took control of this fixture.
Mata's four Premier League starts this season have resulted in a victory over Leicester City, a draw at Southampton and defeats to West Ham and Newcastle. But this is the first time he's begun behind an attack containing Martial. The Frenchman has been the missing link for United during his injury. His presence as a central striker, with Rashford drifting from the left and Mason Greenwood from the right, increased the passing routes open to Mata.
In terms of movement this was perhaps United's best attacking performance since the opening day of the season and Greenwood can't be far off a Premier League start, although it would be harsh on Daniel James.
Creating chances could be a challenge once again this weekend, when Brighton will come to Old Trafford and no doubt look to deny United the space to run in behind and use the blistering attacking pace they possess. But that should increase the space available to United's playmaker and as Mata proved against Partizan he can exploit that.
His appearances in the Premier League have tended to end in frustration this season, but there's no doubt he's United's best No. 10 and this might have given a template for Solskjaer to get the best out of him.
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