The Scottish star proved that coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was absolutely right to put his trust in him.
It’s easy to assert that injuries to a series of key players are an important reason why Manchester United has become unstable this season. However, that is not the only factor leading to the decline of the Old Trafford team, but the cause also stems from poor performances from many pillars.
Up to now, a series of stars such as Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford, Antony and even Raphael Varane or Casemiro have not found their best form, and with what they have shown, they are completely unworthy of a title. position in the main squad. Therefore, coach Erik Ten Hag did not hesitate to put a few big names on the bench and give starting opportunities to those he trusted.
A typical example is the case of Scott McTominay, who essentially faced the door of leaving Old Trafford during the summer transfer window. However, with his relentless efforts, the Scottish midfielder has proven his ability, gained the trust of Ten Hag, and at the same time showed that coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was absolutely right to put his trust in him. me.
It is not difficult to see that McTominay is Solskjaer’s “favorite”, one of the most used players under the Norwegian strategist. Even Solskjaer was criticized by many fans for creating too many playing opportunities for the “mad dog”. However, 2 years after being fired, the player that Solskjaer believes in is still playing an important role in Man Utd’s squad.
McTominay has started in 6/8 of Man Utd’s most recent Premier League matches, and the Red Devils’ performance has also improved significantly during this period. According to data from Manchester Evening News, Man Utd did not win any points in the 3 matches that McTominay was absent. On the contrary, with the presence of “mad dog” in the squad, the Red Devils had 7 wins after 9 matches, gaining an average of 2.3 points/match.
Certainly, it is not a coincidence that Man Utd reaps positive results every time McTominay plays, although there are still certain doubts surrounding this midfielder’s true role in the Man Utd squad. . In addition, the Scottish star also has many weaknesses such as the ability to pass the ball or choose a position to make an interception, but he always makes up for his mistakes by working tirelessly on the field.
Not Mason Mount or Sofyan Amrabat, McTominay is the key factor in Man Utd’s current midfield, forcing the two rookies who just arrived in the summer to regularly appear on the bench. Maybe, there will be a time when McTominay will no longer be the main starter every week, when the Red Devils’ big stars regain their form. However, it cannot be denied that the Scottish midfielder is still a particularly important player for Man Utd.