Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes that the lineup against Leeds United showed priority to Barcelona
Manchester United legend Gary Neville, while speaking to Sky Sports (h/t the Metro) post United’s 2-0 win over Leeds United believes Erik ten Hag does not believe that the club can beat Arsenal and Manchester City to the title race and hence is prioritising Europa League clash against Barcelona.
Neville’s reasoning came from the fact that Ten Hag rested the duo of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, both of whom are established first-choice defenders of the club.
Rather, he went with the pair of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw as the centre-back pairing with Tyrell Malacia operating from the left and Neville believes that the upcoming Europa League fixture against FC Barcelona is a big reason behind the change in the lineup, signifying the importance shown to it by Ten Hag.
“What was interesting was I was watching the second half [against Leeds] and I didn’t think United were going to get the goal and I didn’t think they were going to get the win.
At that point I was thinking Erik ten Hag has actually prioritised the Barcelona game this week. He’s put Martinez and Varane on the bench and saved them for Barcelona and played Shaw and Maguire at centre-back.
If he thought he could win the Premier League he would obviously prioritise that so I think even he’s thinking the title is beyond them. He got away with it today and it’s worked but I just don’t think they can win the Premier League.”
Although it is partly true that playing a game every third day does take a toll on the player’s fitness and it is only comprehensible that adequate rest be provided to have them sharp for important games.
Varane’s injury record since joining Manchester United has not been the best and as a crucial first-team member, it was important to give him rest and at the same time, allow other players such as Harry Maguire to get some minutes and feel part of the process.
While Neville forgot the fact that Martinez would be unavailable for the first leg against Barcelona, it seems like Ten Hag wanted to test the left-side pairing of Shaw and Malacia and whether they could be deployed together again on Thursday.
It does give an idea that Shaw would be pairing with Varane in the first away leg and in all honestly, the England international has not looked out of place at all with his shift to the central defence.
Moreover, it was a good rotation of the squad and three points with a clean sheet would do the world of confidence to players such as Maguire who have not seen much club football this season.
More Manchester United News:
- Jamie Carragher admits he was wrong to think Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez could not cope in Premier League
- Ruud van Nistelrooy slams Cody Gakpo for snubbing “dream” Manchester United move for Liverpool
- Manchester United summer target Adrien Rabiot ‘put up for sale’ by Juventus
While it is too early to argue about a title race, the fact that we are slowly getting the business done in games and covering the gap to the top should be how it goes for the time being.
It is all about winning the next game and if things work in our favour, then maybe we can start talking about us being title contenders come April.
