Manchester United followers have been left perplexed by Erik ten Hag’s resolution to start out Noussair Mazraoui as a alternative for suspended captain Bruno Fernandes towards Fenerbahce.
Fernandes was serving a one-game ban because of his pink card on matchday two towards Porto, with an absence of different midfield choices because of Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Toby Collyer accidents main Ten Hag to get inventive along with his choice.
Mazraoui is pure right-back. However Ten Hag selected to push begin Diogo Dalot again over to that facet, drafting in Victor Lindelof within the center alongside Matthijs de Ligt and utilising stand-in skipper Lisandro Martinez at left-back.
With Manuel Ugarte and Christian Eriksen taking the central midfield roles, Casemiro on the bench, and Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho flanking lone striker Joshua Zirkzee, it surprisingly left Mazraoui to fit in in as United’s ‘quantity 10’.
“At Ajax I performed him there…”
Erik ten Hag explains why he is beginning Noussair Mazraoui at no.10 🗣️
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“I do know him from earlier than,” Ten Hag reasoned when quizzed by TNT Sports activities earlier than kick-off.
“At Ajax, generally, I performed him there. Additionally, as a full-back in our system, he is taking part in within the half areas, so he is able to doing this job.”
Additional pushed on whether or not that meant Mazraoui being essentially the most superior midfield participant, Ten Hag clarified that might certainly be the case, but additionally spoke in regards to the flexibility of various choices.
“Whilst a full-back, he is able to coming there. He can do good urgent,” the Dutchman defined. “Then we will see throughout the recreation what is required and we will go together with him, possibly in one other place, and if wanted conserving taking part in extra offensive, or a extra offensive participant in that place. And it’s additionally potential for a extra defensive midfield by bringing Casemiro on.”
