Manchester United will be looking to secure their spot in the UEFA Europa League final tonight when they host Athletic Club for the second leg of their semi-final.
Despite going into the first leg with weaker form than their opponents, Man United silenced the crowd at the Estadio de San Mams by coming away with a resounding 3-0 victory.
Unlike has been the case for most of the season, manager Ruben Amorim led out a team that was relentless on the attack and cool-headed in defence, refusing to give the hosts even the slightest opportunity to gain the advantage.
While it was an impressive team effort, United’s more experienced players stepped up when it mattered most, with the likes of Harry Maguire, Casemiro, and Bruno Fernandes bringing the winning factor.
Although United’s subsequent match against Brentford resulted in a 4-3 defeat, there were some encouraging signs to take into tonight’s clash.
During the first half, when United were truly on the back foot, Amorim’s lineup consisted of several young players, particularly as he sought to rest some tired legs ahead of tonight’s match.
Although fledglings such as Tyler Fredericson and Harry Amass struggled to cope with Brentford’s physicality, the match’s momentum swung dramatically once some more experienced substitutes were introduced to the match.
The arrival of Christian Eriksen and Amad Diallo provided United with a massive boost, especially when the latter found the back of the net with some phenomenal footwork.
Furthermore, Mason Mount showed his attacking threat while Alejandro Garnacho was rewarded for his high work rate with his stunning goal.
Perhaps the most promising trend that has surfaced from United’s current form is their return to scoring.
While finding the back of the net has proven challenging for much of the season, Amorim’s men have scored a colossal 12 goals in their last five matches in all competitions.
The main issue that seems to be plaguing United as of late is their tendency to be vulnerable at the back, often leading to their undoing despite their fine attacking displays in recent times. This issue becomes even more problematic given that they often fall behind early in the match, thereby giving themselves a bigger hill to climb in their pursuit of victory.
Prior to their win over Athletic, United were held to a 1-1 draw away at Bournemouth. While the visitors dominated for much of the game, a 23rd-minute strike from Antoine Semenyo placed them on the back foot. It took until the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time for United to squeeze out an equaliser courtesy of the struggling Rasmus Hojlund.
The Brentford match saw a similar pattern unfold, with United grabbing the lead only to concede twice in the space of six minutes before half-time.
If that wasn’t enough, United conceded two goals in quick succession in the second half, this time within a four-minute interval.
As a result, United’s fine attacking display late in the match was not enough to overcome such a massive deficit.
For Amorim, tonight’s match should be a straightforward affair – United are going into their home game with a 3-0 lead, meaning that victory is within touching distance so long as they keep their heads about them.
The best thing that United can do in a match such as this is to avoid taking unnecessary risks at the back, particularly in terms of squad selection. Furthermore, Amorim needs to play the strongest defensive lineup at his disposal.
What’s also important is for United to defend with their opponents’ attacking strategy in mind.
For example, Brentford are known for their counter-attacking, quick build-up play, and tendency to take shots from within the box rather than testing the goalkeeper from far out. Despite this, United insisted on playing a high line, allowing their opponents to break through their lines and score four goals as a result.
Given Athletic’s own fast-paced build-up, United should do their best to defend conservatively, play deep, and use their most physical defenders possible.
By simply doing so, United can breeze through to the UEFA Europa League final with minimal hassle.
Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images
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Mathew Cohen A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
