Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has the international break to assess the things that he needs to change and tweak to get the Red Devils back to winning ways after two draws and a defeat in the last three games.
United could not get all three points against Southampton last weekend, who were a man down for the last 20 minutes of the game. Solskjaer’s side face a strong Leicester City team at home after the international break, which could be yet another difficult outing for them.
Let’s take a look at 3 things Manchester United need to change post the international break:
#3 Quicker movement of the ball to the attack
New signing Daniel James has got off to a great start for Manchester United, scoring three goals in his first four games for the club, and seems to have settled into his role rather quickly.
The young Welshman has phenomenal pace, which United should use more often by moving the ball quickly to him and Marcus Rashford. The Red Devils have often dilly-dallied with the ball and kept possession of it rather than using the explosive pace of Rashford and James in the final third.
Rashford did not have good service against Southampton which forced him to drop deeper to get the ball. United should ensure that James and Rashford (as well as Martial, if he’s fit) play on the shoulders of the defenders, and using their pace to get in behind.
#2 Give the ball more to Juan Mata
Juan Mata had a good first half in the game against Southampton and was perhaps the Red Devils’ best player, and he should retain his place in the team instead of Jesse Lingard.
The experienced Spanish attacking midfielder retains possession well, having not lost the ball even once in the game against Southampton while completing 32 passes in the game.
As I mentioned previously, United should exploit the pace of their front three and the man to unlock defences and feed the ball to the talented attackers is Mata.
#1 Clinical finishing
In the first game of the season against Chelsea, Manchester United were ruthless in front of goal, scoring 4 goals of the 7 shots that were on target.
But in the three games that followed the 4-0 victory over Chelsea, United have not been clinical in front of goal.
The game against the Saints saw United have 21 shots in total, 8 of which were on target, but they scored just one goal. United’s success depends on their strikers putting away chances in front of goal.
