When Brentford were playing through Manchester United’s press in the first 20 minutes on Saturday, it felt like Groundhog Day for Erik ten Hag’s team.
Another game where their organisation off the ball was questionable and the lack of ideas in possession was limiting their attacks. Yet, as it turned out, United showed another side of themselves.
After looking porous in midfield throughout the first half and conceding the opening goal from a Brentford corner, United upped their intensity after the break and scored twice to claim a 2-1 victory.
This wasn’t a win where the sheer tonnage of attacking pressure resulted in goals, but one where United had a clear idea of what they wanted to do on the ball — something that has not always been the case in their two seasons and a bit under Ten Hag.
In possession, United’s shape wasn’t much of a surprise, but the narrow positioning of Marcus Rashford as the right-sided No 10, with Diogo Dalot providing the width outside him, was slightly different to normal.
The dynamics of United’s attack meant that Dalot often switched positions with Rashford, and any of the midfield three could make forward runs to provide an additional threat.
The two focal points in United’s attack were Alejandro Garnacho, who occupied the left wing, and Rasmus Hojlund, who constantly dropped from his central striker’s position.
The positioning of Rashford and the midfielders complemented Hojlund’s deeper role because they either offered a threat in behind the defence or pinned Brentford’s centre-backs, which allowed United to find their dropping centre-forward or attack the area he’d vacated.
In this example, Christian Eriksen is in an advanced position to be able to attack the space, and Rashford’s narrow positioning is pinning Ethan Pinnock. Meanwhile, Hojlund is dropping deeper to receive from Dalot, which draws Nathan Collins up the pitch…
…and creates space in Brentford’s defence. Hojlund then flicks the ball with his heel to get past Collins, while Rashford and Eriksen are pinning left centre-back Pinnock…
…which isolates Brentford’s right-back, Sepp van den Berg, against Garnacho when the Danish centre-forward plays the pass to his Argentine winger.
In this one-versus-one situation, Garnacho dribbles inside but his shot is saved by Mark Flekken.
By using Hojlund between the lines, United forced Collins to move up, and Pinnock was unable to move across because of the positioning of Eriksen and Rashford, which prevented Brentford’s centre-backs from supporting Van den Berg in the one-versus-one against Garnacho.
On the transition, Hojlund also presented himself as an outlet between the lines as Garnacho attacked the space. Here, the striker drops to receive from Dalot…
…and rolls left-back Kristoffer Ajer by using his body to shield it, taking the pass with his right foot and dribbling forward with his left.
Hojlund then plays the ball to Rashford, who switches the play to an isolated Garnacho…
… but on this occasion the young winger misses the target.
In this next example, goalkeeper Andre Onana goes direct up to Hojlund…
…who controls the ball with Bruno Fernandes and Eriksen nearby, and Garnacho and Rashford providing the width. Hojlund’s deeper position forces Pinnock to move upfield…
…and Fernandes attacks the space behind Brentford’s centre-backs as his centre-forward plays a pass to Eriksen.
With Pinnock out of position and Fernandes’ movement occupying Collins, the visitors’ central defenders cannot support right-back Van den Berg. Accordingly, Eriksen switches the play to the left to put Garnacho in an isolated one-v-one situation…
… but the winger’s low ball across goal doesn’t find any United player.
Hojlund’s deeper role and the switches of play to an isolated Garnacho worked hand in hand to break down Brentford’s defence and led to United’s equaliser early in the second half.
As we join the build-up, Hojlund’s positioning is forcing Brentford’s centre-backs to be slightly higher than Van den Berg. Meanwhile, Casemiro is in a position to attack the space behind them, which puts the visitors’ right-back in a difficult situation because Garnacho is moving into another area towards the back post.
Casemiro’s run forces Van den Berg to protect the space behind his centre-backs, who don’t drop in time because Hojlund is moving away from their penalty area. This allows Rashford to find an unmarked Garnacho…
… who whacks the ball home to start United’s comeback.
Since Ten Hag’s arrival in summer 2022, switching the play to put Rashford or Garnacho in an isolated situation has been a part of United’s attacking arsenal, but it is rarely complemented with the correct movement that stretches the opposition defence.
As a result, United have failed to unlock teams who are defending their penalty area, aside from relying on individual moments of brilliance or a gung-ho approach that leaves them vulnerable on the counter-attack.
Smart and effective solutions in the final third which play to their individual abilities are what this team have been crying for. One of the issues under Ten Hag is that these ideas have been sporadic and not built on in subsequent matches, which often gives the feeling United are lost when they are trying to break down a defensive block.
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On Saturday, United complemented Hojlund’s movement with switches of play towards Garnacho to break down Brentford, and that type of plan is repeatable, although it might not be suitable against every opponent.
Consistency is the key if the positives from this performance are to have any meaning.
