Man United boss Erik ten Hag guided his side to the cusp of Wembley on Wednesday and might have made an intriguing discovery.
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When Cristiano Ronaldo spat his dummy out and made his stay at Manchester United untenable, there was some justifiable concern to go alongside the relief.
While there was no doubt – even without the benefit of hindsight – that losing a toxic presence and a player no longer suited to elite-level football would be a net benefit, there was the issue of United’s depleted attacking force. Ten Hag was already desperately short on centre-forward options beforehand but the sudden exit left him with just Marcus Rashford and the perenially injured Anthony Martial to choose from.
Reinforcements were obviously needed in the January transfer window if the positive start was to be capitalised upon and the eventual choice didn’t inspire much confidence. Although he stunned the world with his two brilliant late goals against Argentina in the World Cup, Wout Weghorst wasn’t exactly the name anyone had in mind.
A big 30-year-old on loan in Turkey from Championship side Burnley following on from only managing two goals in the Premier League after being signed to drag them out of a relegation scrap. It didn’t inspire the greatest confidence – at least on first look.
However, after a deeper inspection, the signing began to make more sense. Nine goals in 18 games for Besiktas was nothing to sniff at, as well as a very decent record throughout his career before landing at Turf Moor. A short-term, cheap option while United wait to go for their big star target in the summer with restored financial clout was smart. He is a different option given his giant frame. Maybe it wasn’t so disappointing after all.
So it has proved. With Martial injured again Weghorst has had to start every match so far and he has looked sharp. The Dutchman isn’t the lumbering target man being signed by Sean Dyche might have suggested, in fact, he doesn’t play like that at all. He much prefers to receive the ball to his feet and then bring others into play, something he is having much more joy with at United given the quality of his teammates.
He is quickly becoming a focal point for United’s more mercurial forwards to play around. He is – incredibly – a far superior option in the team than Ronaldo as he fits the system, and is surely a better outcome than Ten Hag would have envisaged.
Weghost grabbed his first goal on Wednesday with an instinctive finish and all of a sudden, even with Martial out at present, United look much healthier in attack as Ten Hag has options he can rely on. But it’s not only upfront that has been enhanced.
Alejandro Garnacho’s meteoric rise has been a blessing as it’s given United a real game-changer off the bench. An exciting, largely unknown entity to opponents whose fearlessness can result in rewards. The Argentine leapfrogged plenty ahead of him to get the spot.
Losing out on minutes to an 18-year-old could come as a blow, but to Anthony Elanga and Facundo Pellistri it might have been a wake-up call instead. Elanga was once in Garnacho’s shoes but has not been able to push on following his arrival in the side. The Swede still hasn’t scored since February but against Nottingham Forest he came on and grabbed a lovely assist by dinking the ball into the path of Bruno Fernandes. It was a long-overdue piece of quality from Elanga and sends a reminder that he can have a positive impact on the side.
Pellistri also came on for just his second appearance. He didn’t get an assist this time but nearly did when Weghorst met his pinpoint cross. Though he played himself into trouble a couple of times, he was always looking to make things happen and Ten Hag was left impressed.
“We have seen some physicality, he had some good movements, some good runs in behind, he has speed,” Ten Hag said. “So he has to bring that in our game. I think he is a player who can play really good between the lines because he can be ball-secure, that he has to bring in our game.
“A little bit different, like a left-footed right winger we have with Antony and he is right-footed and his good chance he created was his cross for Wout Weghorst.”
Both Elanga and Pellistri remain young and still have plenty of potential. If they can continue to make positive contributions when called upon then Ten Hag suddenly has plenty more to choose from in his attack. Couple them along with a new and improved Jadon Sancho, hopefully returning soon fit and raring to go, and then the options which looked so bereft just a few short weeks ago are suddenly varied, exciting and plentiful.
Source: dailylifeworld.com
