Manchester United have two new defensive leaders under Erik ten Hag after Westham clash

Martinez’s direction

 

Although Harry Maguire was wearing the captain’s armband for Manchester United, Lisandro Martinez felt like the leader of this defense against West Ham.

 

Martinez was outstanding yet again for United, defending aggressively and valiantly, motivating his teammates, and using the ball brilliantly. He was very vocal, both with his teammates and with the authorities.

 

With Raphael Varane’s recent injury and Victor Lindelof’s illness, United’s defense is stretched, but Martinez feels like the constant at the moment. He’s played with all three on at least three occasions and continues to amaze whoever he’s playing with.

 

Maguire had his first Premier League appearance since the first two games of the season, and he was solid defensively. His passing was nowhere like as precise as Martinez’s, forcing him into a couple of desperate lunges. United’s proactive strategy under Erik ten Hag forces the center-backs to defend one-on-one at times, which is not Maguire’s strong suit.

 

But he did the fundamentals effectively, which was probably enough for England boss Gareth Southgate. Martinez, on the other hand, was the defensive standout.

 

In the second half, there was one fantastic block from a Gianluca Scamacca shot before a daring header that saw him take a foot to the head from the forward. His hostility is nothing new, but it did stymie some potentially lethal attempts at times.

 

The Argentine’s drive to do defensive dirty work, to get into the trenches and battle for his teammates, is contagious. Maguire rose to the challenge when United was punted back in the second half, and David de Gea made a couple of excellent stops.

 

The redevelopment of Dalot

 

Diogo Dalot is another player who appears to be enjoying Martinez’s defensive mindset. His United prospects appeared dismal a year ago. He couldn’t move ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the team and hadn’t started a Premier League game since October 2019.

 

That stretch came to an end in December of last year, and today Dalot is one of the first names on the squad sheet, a dynamic full-back who checks practically every box for Ten Hag. The Dutchman expects a lot from his full-backs, and Dalot has relished the job, frequently dropping into midfield and offering a danger from wide areas.

 

The fact that Dalot is the only outfield player to start every game under Ten Hag is due in part to his improvements and in part to Wan-absence Bissaka from the squad, but Dalot deserves a lot of credit for his personal improvement.

 

Against West Ham, it was the defense that stood out the most. This wasn’t a convincing United performance, and they were under a lot of pressure in the second half, but Dalot was crucial.

 

As the Hammers attempted an aerial assault, he repeatedly tucked in at the back post, and four times the right-back won key headers in hazardous positions, allowing United to cling on to a crucial three points.

 

The top four targets

 

When Manchester United was beaten by Brighton and Brentford in their first two Premier League games, a top-four finish appeared a long way off, but it is now possible that they will be fourth by the time the season ends for the World Cup.

 

United has made an incredible comeback, and they should have higher objectives than merely finishing fourth this season. Although they are only six points behind City, Pep Guardiola’s claim that they are in the title battle seems a little far-fetched, finishing second or third looks completely plausible.

 

The most positive part for United is that there are noticeable improvements virtually weekly under Ten Hag, and there is no reason to believe that will not continue in the second half of the season. This was a scrappy victory, but it was a victory nonetheless.

 

United have a chance to regain some power and put their flag firmly back in the top four in a season in which Liverpool has slumped severely and Tottenham and Chelsea have failed to impress.

 

Currently in construction

 

As impressive as United have been in recent games, particularly against Tottenham and Chelsea, this was a reminder that, under Ten Hag, they are still a work in progress.

 

United dominated those games at times, and they’ve flourished against the stronger teams this season, but they’ve struggled against teams with a more defensive approach.

 

Their triumphs over Southampton, Leicester City, Everton, and West Ham have all been by one goal, indicating that they may struggle to break down those opponents.

 

They’ve also had to absorb periods of pressure in some of those games, and their awful second-half performance against West Ham required a significant defensive rearguard. David Moyes’ team would be frustrated that they did not get the equalizer they deserved.

 

Ten Hag was clearly enraged by United’s inability to control the second half against West Ham, who was growing increasingly angry on the touchline as his team gave possession cheaply time and time again.

 

His subs have generally had a positive impact this season, but bringing on Scott McTominay and Fred in this game perhaps encouraged pressure. Ten Hag would undoubtedly claim he wanted greater control, but it only pushed United deeper and conceded ground in midfield.

 

In the end, they were helped by a tenacious defensive effort and some outstanding goalkeeping from David de Gea.

 

Sancho’s wake-up call

 

Given that Anthony Elanga had not started a game for United since September 8, it’s difficult to argue that the academy graduate has worked his way into the squad. Instead, this was a strong indication that Jadon Sancho was on his way out of the starting XI.

 

Sancho has gone back into his shell recently after a promising pre-season and a bright start to the season, and it was telling that he was changed early in the second half at Stamford Bridge last week, being replaced by a midfielder in Fred.

 

With Antony injured in training, Sancho may have expected a reprieve against West Ham, but Ten Hag’s choice to go with Elanga instead should serve as a wake-up call to the £73 million winger, who just isn’t living up to his price tag on a consistent enough basis at the present.

 

With Elanga subsequently replaced by McTominay early in the second half, it appears that Sancho still has work to do to regain his spot in this team.