Spared the axe following Might’s shock FA Cup remaining triumph, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag can have been hoping to quieten the doubters this season, with the intention of getting off to a robust begin below the brand new INEOS regime.
Whereas change would not occur in a single day for a aspect maybe nonetheless in that dreaded ‘transition’, the United hierarchy would little question have anticipated higher after belatedly deciding to maintain the Dutchman within the job, with the membership already six points behind rivals Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League.
Even dropping into the Europa League has not helped issues for Ten Hag as the previous Ajax boss noticed his aspect slip to a 1-1 draw with the membership of his coronary heart, FC Twente, on Wednesday evening, a end result that may solely heighten the strain on the 54-year-old.
In reality, the skilled coach wants his key males to step up over the approaching weeks, with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes two of the extra high-profile stars who’ve endured a blended begin to the season.
Rashford and Fernandes’ kind in 2024/25
On the face of it, it might seem as if each males have began the season fairly effectively, with the pair each offering four goal contributions in eight video games in all competitions thus far.
That stated, that return fairly clouds their general kind, with Fernandes, specifically, having struggled to make his mark of late, after notably erratic shows towards both Twente and Crystal Palace over the previous week or so.
Excluding the EFL Cup win over Barnsley – and the glorified pleasant that’s the Neighborhood Protect – the Portuguese playmaker solely really has one assist to his name up to now this season, having additionally created simply two ‘big chances’ within the league.
As for Rashford, the Englishman has actually seemed sharper of late with three goals and an assist from his final 4 appearances, though three of these aim involvements additionally got here towards League One opposition, elevating the query as as to if he’s actually ‘again’.
These aim and help returns will must be far increased by the top of the season if United are to have a profitable marketing campaign, with one former asset presently outshining the pair away from Previous Trafford.
Fred’s begin to life in Turkey
Let’s start this part with the caveat that Ten Hag and co have been doubtless right of their determination to maneuver on polarising star, Fred, again in the summertime of 2023, with the Brazilian one thing of a blended bag throughout his five-year spell in Manchester.
Able to moments of magic – like his gorgeous strike towards Barcelona within the Europa League – in addition to head-scratching moments, having been dubbed “not good enough” by Roy Keane, the one-time £47m signing was allowed to depart final summer time, becoming a member of Turkish giants Fenerbahce for a fee of just £13m.
Where Are They Now
Your star participant or largest flop has left the membership however what are they doing within the current day? This text is a part of Soccer FanCast’s The place Are They Now collection.
Shifting on the 31-year-old did seem to be an inevitability, however with query marks lingering over United’s present crop of midfielders – together with the likes of Casemiro – maybe there may nonetheless have been a job for him to play in Ten Hag’s ranks, notably as he would ” give his last drop of blood for the team“, within the phrases of Ralf Rangnick.
As it’s, Fred’s determination to maneuver to Istanbul now appears notably astute, with the previous Shakhtar Donetsk man having registered 16 goals and assists in simply 42 video games for the Tremendous Lig aspect thus far.
|
Fred’s Fenerbahce kind – Tremendous Lig stats |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
|
Video games (begins) |
25 (24) |
4 (4) |
|
Massive possibilities created |
7 |
1 |
|
Key passes |
1.2 |
1.3 |
|
Cross accuracy |
84% |
82% |
|
Tackles |
2.0 |
0.8 |
|
Interceptions |
0.9 |
1.5 |
|
Balls recovered |
6.3 |
5.5 |
|
Complete duels gained |
50% |
48% |
|
Possession misplaced |
12.9 |
13x |
The diminutive expertise has notably thrived below the tutelage of his one-time United boss, Jose Mourinho, up to now this season, having scored three goals – all of which got here in the identical sport – and contributed two assists throughout all fronts.
That return of 5 aim involvements is thus remarkably really forward of what each Fernandes & Rashford have achieved again in Manchester, indicating the impression he has made in his new environment.
Even at a time when United are struggling, few can be left ruing the choice to let Fred go away, but it does illustrate the woes of Ten Hag’s key males that even the Fenerbahce man is outperforming them in an attacking sense.
For United’s sake, let’s hope the Belo Horizonte native would not have his capturing boots on when the 2 sides meet within the Europa League later this season…
