At a time when entertaining attacking displays are at a premium, Michael Carrick‘s Manchester United side have been a refreshing throwback.
Unlike Arsenal, who often rely on set pieces, and Liverpool, who struggle to break sides down at all, the Red Devils have managed to find a creative spark capable of finding a route to goal against just about anyone.
Bruno Fernandes is unsurprisingly at the centre of that, but INEOS deserve a lot of credit for how last summer’s attacking revival is now finally paying off under Carrick.
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When Carrick first arrived, he did two simple things. He moved Fernandes back into the No.10 role and he changed to a 4-2-3-1 system.
This allowed Man United’s chief creator to create and for every player to play in their natural roles throughout the side. And whilst other changes have been more complex, sometimes the initial answer really can be that simple.
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Amorim’s refusal to ditch his 3-4-2-1 system eventually cost him his job in a decision that was long overdue. It asked his most creative players to feature in a limited role, with the likes of Amad Diallo forced to play wingback, and struggled to break low blocks down in a shape that was always likely to be more combative.
Carrick has done the opposite and reaped the rewards – winning seven of his 10 games in charge this season. The biggest example of his turnaround has been the form of his front four. Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Fernandes and Matheus Cunha have all starred.
Man Utd 25/26 PL
Under Amorim
Under Carrick
Games
20
10
Wins
8
7
Draws
7
2
Defeat
5
1
Goals Scored P90
1.7
2
Goals Conceded P90
1.5
1.1
INEOS are just getting started with their attacking revival too.
According to one notable United source, Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye is open to joining Man United and the Red Devils are chasing his arrival this summer.
The report outlines that the midfield remains the ‘priority’, although INEOS are keeping tabs on Ndiaye, with the player himself said to view United as his ‘dream club’.
Why Ndiaye would be an instant upgrade on Cunha
Sesko and Mbeumo have proved that competition for places is no bad thing this season, and the addition of Ndiaye would create a similar situation for Cunha.
As much as the Brazilian is proving to be a big game player at Old Trafford, he’s still lacking enough consistency. The arrival of Ndiaye would, therefore, either push him out of the side or push him towards further stardom. That’s the beauty of quality in depth.
PL stats 25/25
Cunha
Ndiaye
Minutes
2,075
2,156
Goals
7
6
Assists
2
3
Successful Dribbles
38
55
Chances Created
26
23
It’s not just Cunha that Ndiaye is comparable to, either. Former Man Utd star Louis Saha compared the Senegal international to both Amad and Mbeumo back in February – saying, via the Metro: “Ndiaye, from the moment he signed, he’s been an amazing talent. I would love to see him, maybe at some point at Man Utd, to be honest.
“He’s a very skillful player. I like Ndiaye’s style. Like Mbeumo, he’s comfortable with the ball. His work rate is very good… he’s a bit like a mix of Amad and Mbeumo to be honest.”
It’s easy to see why Saha was so full of praise. Ndiaye has been the ultimate threat at Everton this season, taking his place as their leading talisman.
His take-on numbers have been especially impressive and that’s where he’d be an upgrade on Cunha. Having an option who can break teams down almost single-handedly would undoubtedly take United to the next level.
It’s no secret that the key to stopping the Red Devils lies behind stopping Fernandes. He is the low block cheat code, but so is Ndiaye. The Man Utd captain does so through his passing range. The Everton star is capable of doing so through his dribbling success – something that Cunha doesn’t offer as often.
At 26 years old, Ndiaye is at the peak of his powers and could have the chance to seal a move to Old Trafford this summer.
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