02 March 2023 , 16:09
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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has wasted little time in resolving two issues that plagued the club during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign.
However, the Dutchman can't take all of the credit, as he has a right-hand man and former England boss Steve McClaren to thank for giving him the tip-off to solve the issues three years ago. The current United assistant spotted how Solskjaer deployed Anthony Martial and offered up an explanation as to why the Frenchman was struggling under Ten Hag's predecessor.
He suggested that Martial was actually more useful when operating out wide and using him in a central attacking role was to the detriment of both the player and the squad.
"Martial is not a No 9, he is not a striker," McClaren told Sky Sports. "All his goals, all his best moments are on that left-hand side.
Whether that's outside left or whether that's inside left, that's where he plays. He cannot play down the middle on his own."
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So what has Ten Hag gone to rectify the problem? sign Wout Weghorst on loan for the remainder of the season. Now, while the Netherlands international is hardly a prolific goal-scorer, the way he brings others into play and acts as a springboard for the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford to play off of him is proving invaluable.
Anthony Martial can't lead the line for Man United, according to Steve McClaren (Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Where will Man Utd finish this season? Comment below
Martial has endured an injury-hit campaign once again this term and while it is unlikely that Weghorst stays at Old Trafford on a permanent basis, the odds of Martial leading the line or even featuring on a regular basis under Ten Hag moving forward are equally as slim.
It is not just the former Monaco man that caused Solskjaer headaches according to McClaren. He also suggested that there was a certain presence missing in the middle of the park under the Norwegian.
"Fred is getting better, more confident, but he likes to roam around. They've got nobody like a [Roy] Keane sat in there.
"Absolutely [Scott McTominay] could do that but he still goes and wanders, but at least he's got the physicality to get around. So they're missing somebody in there."
Ten Hag was particularly quick to resolve this issue, signing former Real Madrid man Casemiro in his first summer in charge. The fee of £60million raised eybrows at the time, but no one is questioning that total now more than halfway through the season.
The Brazilian has arguably been United's stand-out performer so far this term and could be one of the defining signings of Ten Hag's reign.