Aheed Abrar
Erik ten Hag not happy with ‘movement’ of Manchester United duo Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia against Omonia Nicosia
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag explains he was not happy with the “movement” of Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho against Omonia Nicosia. Subsequently, the Dutch manager substituted the left-back and left-winger at half-time.
Neil Lennon’s team went into the break with a one-goal advantage. Omonia were able to score in the 34th minute against the run of play. The combination of Malacia and Sancho gave the ball away in the build-up to Karim Ansarifard’s strike.
Ten Hag brought on Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw for the start of the second 45. Thankfully, the Red Devils managed to get over the line and win 3-2.
Speaking after the fixture via Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag revealed he had an issue with the left-hand side of United’s team. Thus, the Dutch manager took off Malacia and Sancho.
“It (the goal) was not what I was happy with, it was the movement with our ball. The width on the left side, for me, was no good first-half. The movement from behind the defending line.
“So I hoped with Luke and Marcus we get more effect from that and so in my opinion that happens.”
The changes at half-time paid off. While United did dominate the first half, the substitutes evidently gave the team more bite in the final third.
Rashford scored the equalising goal early in the second half. Another substitute, Anthony Martial, gave the Red Devils the lead in the 63rd minute. The English forward scored another late in the game before Omonia managed to make it 3-2.
United were in control of the game and dominated the proceedings. The scoreline wrongly suggests that the game was closer than it was.
The Red Devils missed a few chances in both halves. Cristiano Ronaldo had a bad day at the office. The Portuguese did not seem to have his shooting boots on.
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Sancho and Malacia now have had two bad games in a row. The United duo also struggled against Manchester City in our last Premier League game. It remains to be seen whether the manager picks them to start against Everton on the weekend.
