The team is not doing well enough so Ten Hag has to play him there

United has been poor despite current run which gives Ten Hag more worries.

04/11/2022, 07:17 PM +00:00

Manchester United is on a run of nine games unbeaten, with their last loss coming against local rivals Manchester City in a 6-3 loss at the Etihad. The run has seen them win seven of the nine games with two draws. But the majority of the recent results have left so many question marks on the quality and form of the players in the team.

Erik Ten Hag has favored a 4-2-3-1 style at United with a playmaker direct behind the top nine to provide the necessary quality passes and assist to create goal-scoring chances for the frontman. Bruno Fernandes has owned this position since his move to United two years ago racking up double figures in assists and goals in back-to-back seasons.

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Sadly that has not been the case this season has he been on a run of poor form for recent weeks despite playing almost all United matches so far this season. His blazing start to the Premier League had many pitches him in the conversion of top creators in football against the likes of Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City, Liverpool's former player Sadio Mane and a few others.

But his undeniable poor this season has been a catalyst to United's limited chance creations in games as he has been unable to deliver on the quality that he possesses. To accommodate his quality, Ten Hag has primarily played another quality and experienced playmaker, Christian Eriksen in a deeper role, with the hope of dictating games from deep, and he has delivered in the unfamiliar position with a few assists.

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With a trip to Villa Park on Sunday afternoon, Erik ten Hag will be looking to shake things up in the hopes that they yield a better result than his current setup, with Eriksen expected to start in his preferred role behind the striker. This will mean that Bruno Fernandes will most likely start the day from the bench as they look to extend their unbeaten run with a win.