Why Erik ten Hag’s latest experiment at Man United could be long-term

Erik ten Hag has found multiple unique ways to overcome difficulties in his first season at Manchester United.

Whether it be using Luke Shaw as a centre-back in the absence of Lisandro Martinez or moving Wout Weghorst deeper to help maximise the output of Marcus Rashford — Ten Hag has the capabilities to find solutions within his squad.

However, the Dutchman’s latest attempt at this could be one that he decides to stick with on a longer term basis.

Jadon Sancho has featured several times as the number 10 for United. He is regarded as a winger but many could not agree on which wing he works better from; the left or right.

That’s because it doesn’t really matter too much with Sancho. What’s more important in the available runners and structure around him.

Playing centrally means that the Englishman’s abilities to set the tempo can be utilised, as well as him having a wider picture to be able to work with in regard to players making runs for him.

He’s able to more consistently enter the half-spaces in this position too, which is where he is most dangerous – as shown through his latest goal against Leicester City.

It seems like a positional change that could very well work for Sancho, Ten Hag and United in the longer term; but the adjustment of moving Bruno Fernandes to the right, rather than benching him, is also vital to the success of this change.

Sancho might offer better link-up and tempo building than Fernandes in that position – but he does not offer nearly as much direct creative threat or energy off ball. These are two things that Ten Hag does not want to lose in his team.

So the manager wants this switch of positions between the two to work. He’s regularly moved the Portuguese midfielder wide in games throughout the season.

In this position, Fernandes is still able to access inside areas when being overlapped and also can create well from the right. In fact, his creative actions might be less frequent but they could be in more dangerous positions, and not be overdone – something he’s been criticised for in the past.

He’s also able to continue to use his high-energy pressing to help defensively. He will track overlapping full-backs and double team with his own full-back, as well as snapping into the middle when needed to help regain possession.

Ten Hag’s decision to switch these two players around might seem like it’s not a big change, partly due to the fluidity that United’s attacking players have, but it could have small positive impacts on each of their performances.

Those small gains are what Ten Hag has been focused on getting from his players. That extra five per cent can be huge and if this is able to get the best from Jadon Sancho, then it could be something that is used more and more.