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Donny van de Beek’s omission from the starting eleven to face Paris Saint-Germain in the middle of the week may have disappointed some Manchester United fans, but it will not have taken them by surprise.
United supporters have been desperate to see more of their summer signing, which has only started one Premier League match since arriving from Ajax.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted for the energetic duo of Fred and Scott McTominay against the Ligue 1 champions after their best performances at the Parc des Princes in October. The United manager has often selected that midfield pivot in important games to provide an extra layer of protection for United’s four defenders.
Van de Beek was introduced with 11 minutes to go, but was a spectator when Neymar sealed victory for PSG in the later stages.
The result may have been a blessing in disguise for the Dutchman who could return to the starting lineup during today’s Premier League clash against West Ham.
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Van de Beek played the full 90 minutes in victories against Istanbul Basaksehir and Southampton before falling to the bench against the Parisians. Bruno Fernandes and Fred could team up in midfield, despite the latter receiving a questionable red card mid-week.
The midfield trident has only been used once by Solskjaer from the start, the 4-1 win against Basaksehir, but it could become their first pick if United extend their impressive away form against the Hammers.
United should dominate the ball at London Stadium: West Ham is ranked 18th in the Premier League this season in average possession, as former Reds coach David Moyes prefers to sit back and hit teams on the counter.
Solskjaer’s team will be forced to recycle the ball and destroy a team that has greatly improved behind under the Scot.
Take Manchester City’s draw against West Ham in October for example.
City controlled the ball, enjoying nearly 70 percent possession, but couldn’t make their dominance count. Pep Guardiola’s team managed just seven shots on goal while achieving a draw in London. Guardiola used Bernardo Silva in a role similar to that which Van de Beek could use for Solskjaer, but the Portuguese managed only 35 touches during the 68 minutes he was on the field.
Van de Beek’s attributes as a box-to-box midfielder are perfectly suited to this game and given West Ham’s tendency to defend on a low block, it will be enough to have just one defensive midfielder in Fred. Van de Beek will be key in linking the game and bringing United’s most creative player Fernandes into the game, but he will also provide an attacking threat.
His vision was praised by the fans after Southampton’s victory and will be key to unlocking West Ham’s low block. Liverpool’s last winner at Anfield in October was a prime example of the kind of passing required to break Moyes’s system.
Xherdan Shaqiri saw Diogo Jota’s perfectly timed run that ended with ease. Given United’s pace with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, Van de Beek would be key to replicating that goal today. The Dutchman has averaged significantly more accurate passes to both the last third and the penalty area than any other United midfielder, including Fernandes. His eye for a pass will be crucial as he runs behind the lines of players like Anthony Martial, Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford.
Solskjaer has insisted on patience over Van de Beek’s development, but another solid performance alongside Fred and Fernandes could make him United’s next invincible.
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