It is amazing how in sport just one game can make a huge difference, for a players prospects that season, either positively or negatively. Two players who for Manchester United faced the exit door: Ander Herrera and Marcos Rojo. The first because he was not getting the game time, the latter because of a reported bust up with Van Gaal.
However one good game against Everton has potentially changed their prospects for the season, for the better.
Van Gaal hints they may start against CSKA Moskow
After reportedly being abandoned by the club after yet again, a reported bust up with Louis Van Gaal, Marcos Rojo seemed to have played his final game for Manchester United.
While not being his final game, a similar thing could be said for Spanish central midfielder, Ander Herrera, who just didn’t seem to be able to get into Van Gaal’s good books no matter what he did.
But a man of the match performance from Herrera, alongside a very impressive performance by the Argentine Rojo, in the left back position, has left them with positive chances to play more often for Manchester United.
After the Everton game when asked about possible team selections for CSKA Moscow on Wednesday, Van Gaal told ESPN “Now they have played very well, so I am not stupid, I won’t change too much on Wednesday.”
This opens the door for both Herrera and Rojo, to keep their respective places in the side.
Is this all positive?
While being a positive for sure, for the two players, who now finally appear to be given a chance to secure a place. The real question, is how this impact upon Manchester United’s team as a whole?
With Rojo playing at left back, it means that Manchester United have a genuine defender at left back, while he may be more of a centre back, he is still a left sided defender. It makes a lot more sense to have a left sided defender filling for Luke Shaw, rather than a winger in Ashley Young, being asked to suddenly become a defensive expert.
Rojo performed extremely well against Everton, rarely being beaten, positioning himself well and even got an assist off a superb cross directly to Herrera, to head home and make the game 2-0.
More often than not Rojo plays well when called upon so there is little to worry about, in terms of the Rojo team selection.
Just like Rojo, Herrera performed extremely well against Everton, scoring and getting an assist on his way to a man of the match performance.
The positioning of Herrera at number 10 directly behind the striker, seems perfect for him. While at first glance it means pushing goal scoring Anthony Martial, out wide, as was evident against Everton Martial still creates chances and gets in positions for his own chances.
Due to this there is no negative for Herrera’s positioning, it even means Wayne Rooney is played in his natural position as the main striker. A number 10 in simple terms, has to do two things, be able to pick out passes to create chances and to score goals himself. Well against Everton alone he did both those things, getting an assist and scoring.
The inclusion of Herrera and Rojo into the Manchester United side, for the Champions League fixture against CSKA Moscow, is a positive move.
