Manchester United’s rollercoaster season took another turn with a thrilling but shaky 4-3 defeat to Chelsea. While the final score suggests an entertaining affair, the Red Devils’ performance exposed vulnerabilities in Erik ten Hag’s tactical setup. Here, we delve into two key decisions by the manager that arguably contributed to the loss....For More CONTINUE THE FULL READING▶▶
1. Leaving The Flanks Exposed:
Ten Hag opted for a more attacking approach, deploying a narrower formation with wing-backs instructed to push high. This undoubtedly yielded some success, with Antony and Garnacho causing problems down the flanks.
However, it left United vulnerable to Chelsea’s pacey wing-backs, Maso Gusto and Marc Cucurella. Time and again, Chelsea exploited the space behind United’s wing-backs, creating dangerous overloads and putting the Red Devils’ center-backs under immense pressure.
The midfield trio struggled to contain Chelsea’s creative hub of Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez. United’s midfield lacked a ball-winner, allowing Chelsea to dominate possession and dictate the tempo of the game.
This constant pressure on the United backline eventually resulted in defensive lapses that Chelsea capitalized on.
