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Manchester United travelled to the Amex to tackle Brighton and Hove Albion within the membership’s last match of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
United went into the sport filled with confidence following their earlier 3-2 win towards Newcastle. The workforce was additionally boosted by a variety of returns, with the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane again into the matchday squad.
Erik ten Hag began Andre Onana in purpose with a defensive 4 of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot forward of the goalkeeper.
Kobbie Mainoo and Sofyan Amrabat shaped the midfield pivot with skipper Bruno Fernandes barely forward of them.
Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo had been deployed on the wings, with Scott McTominay within the centre-forward place. Listed below are three issues we discovered from Manchester United’s 2-0 win towards Brighton.
Ten Hag completely outclassed by Roberto De Zerbi within the first half
Ten Hag was given a correct tactical education by De Zerbi within the opening 45 minutes. Brighton had been simply the dominant facet and had been very unfortunate to not head down the tunnel at the least one or two targets up.
The Seagulls had the lion’s share of possession (60%) to United (40%). Additionally they had extra pictures aimed toward Onana’s purpose (10) compared to the Pink Devils (3).
Brighton managed to pin United again into their very own half and restricted Ten Hag’s facet to just some speculative overtures into their territory.
United’s greatest probability to interrupt the impasse landed to McTominay, who was put by means of on purpose by Fernandes. Nonetheless, the Scotland worldwide didn’t tame his effort and it flew over the bar.
In the meantime, Brighton created a number of clear-cut possibilities, with the likes of Barco and Joao Pedro nearly discovering the again of the online. Fortunately for United, the duo’s poor ending allow them to down.
Pascal Groß was a continuing menace to United in the course of the park and likewise put in some good crosses contained in the United field.
In midfield, Carlos Baleba dominated and ensured the Reds had been left with solely scraps to work with. United’s wing pairing of Garnacho and Amad was fairly and all credit score belongs to De Zerbi and his gamers for neutralising the 2.
Wan-Bissaka and Dalot barely had the possibility to fly ahead and participate in attacking phases of the sport. The fixed barrage of assaults from Brighton demanded that they keep again to assist the centre-backs stop Onana’s purpose from being breached.
Yesterday, Brighton confirmed that De Zerbi will depart the membership after the sport vs. United. The Italian coach has been linked to United as a attainable substitute for Ten Hag if INEOS had been to sack the Dutchman.
Sir Dave Brailsford and new technical director Jason Wilcox had been watching the sport and had been noticed in deep dialog all through the half. In the event that they had been contemplating the sport on the Amex as a De Zerbi audition, then the Brighton boss handed the primary half with flying colors.
United should not hold Amrabat below any circumstances
A participant that highlighted how poor and underwhelming United had been towards Brighton was Amrabat.
The Moroccan did properly in previous video games vs. Arsenal and Newcastle however he reverted again to kind throughout Sunday’s conflict. He was actually the weakest hyperlink in the course of the park.
On a number of events, he was dispossessed of the ball in harmful areas and gave Brighton the possibility to drive ahead.
It was puzzling how Amrabat appeared unaware of his environment and opponents round him. Seemingly conscious of this weak spot, Brighton had been all too blissful to aggressively press the United man when he obtained the ball.
One other irritating facet of Amrabat’s recreation was his erratic passing. Many times, he stored giving the ball away to Brighton even when below little to no strain.
Amrabat failed in his major duty of defending the defence as he supplied no safety in any way. It was additionally very noticeable how sluggish he was reacting to hazard.
The 27-year-old merely appeared out of his depth on the market and that in itself needs to be sufficient to persuade United to not make his keep everlasting.
He’s not ok for the membership and what they need to obtain and it’s there shouldn’t be any hesitation about letting him depart for a brand new journey.
Amrabat was taken off and changed by Varane within the 69th minute.
FA Cup do-or-die for United
Fortunately for United, second-half targets from Dalot and substitute Rasmus Hojlund spared United’s blushes and secured them a 2-0 win.
A elegant Casemiro ball from deep fell onto Dalot’s path and the right-back made no mistake from shut vary as he beat Jason Steele.
Hojlund alternatively produced some nice motion contained in the field to create house for himself earlier than firing a shot into the underside nook. The purpose took his season tally to 16.
The outcome was nonetheless not sufficient to clinch Europe for United by way of a league end. The 20-time English champions have completed the marketing campaign in eighth place – embarrassing and disappointing to say the least.
Nonetheless, United have the possibility to nonetheless sneak into the Europa League if they’ll by some means pull off a miracle subsequent weekend within the FA Cup last and beat Manchester Metropolis.
The showpiece Wembley occasion is do-or-die for United and can doubtless have an enormous say on whether or not Ten Hag stays or is relieved of his duties as supervisor.
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