How Ten Hag broke Xavi's plan to block Rashford
True to the information published by the Spanish newspaper AS before the match, Xavi brought Ronald Araujo to the right-back with the task of accompanying Rashford. Meanwhile, Jules Kounde was pulled into the middle to play a central defender with Marcos Alonso.
Xavi used this defensive tactic in the 3-1 win over Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on January 15. That day, Araujo also played at right-back and controlled Vinicius - Real's left-winger - while Kounde played a central defender with Andreas Christensen.
At Camp Nou yesterday, Ten Hag did not have the strongest force when Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer were suspended for receiving all three yellow cards in the group stage, while Donny van de Beek, Christian Eriksen, Anthony Martial, Scott McTominay and Antony is absent due to injury.
However, Ten Hag still has appropriate adjustments to counter Barca's defensive plan. Accordingly, Wout Weghorst - 1m97 tall striker - was pulled down by the Dutch coach to kick the attack, like Man Utd's number 10.
On social networks, fans call Weghorst "the new Marouane Fellaini". While working at Old Trafford, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho repeatedly pushed Fellaini up the front to take advantage of the Belgian midfielder's aerial ability.
Like Fellaini, Weghorst's forte is picking up crosses to head or wall in the penalty area. But Ten Hag decided to use Weghorst's muscular strength and aerial combat to enhance Man Utd's ability to contest in the middle of the field, against Barca's technical midfielders and good ball control.
Ten Hag tested this layout in a 2-0 win at Leeds in round 23 of the Premier League on February 12. From the 61st minute, when the score was not open, he pulled Weghorst down to the position of an assist midfielder, pushed Marcus Rashford into the striker and substituted Alejandro Garnacho on the left wing. This operation is effective, helping Man Utd dominate and then score in the last 10 minutes when the host is down. Rashford headed the opener from Luke Shaw's cross in the 80th minute, before Garnacho sped up and scored a 2-0 victory.
In the match against Barca yesterday, Bruno Fernandes was once again pushed to the right, where he could make crosses or drift into the center to help Man Utd control the ball.
In the end, Rashford was pushed to the center of the pitch, despite his excellent performances when he was active in the last match. According to Sunsport newspaper, the adjustments that Ten Hag made nullified Xavi's plan to appoint Araujo with the English striker. The Spanish coach did not change the original plan, when Araujo followed Jadon Sancho, and Kounde faced Rashford.
Rashford also continued to sublimate when he imprinted his shoes on both Man Utd's goals. The 25-year-old striker penetrated the penalty box and finished close to the corner to lower the goalkeeper Ter Stegen in the 53rd minute, then soloed the right wing and slammed inside to touch Kounde's body and flew into the net 59 minutes. face at the end of the game.
Tore the net of Barca, Rashford has 22 goals for Man Utd in all competitions this season, equaling his best record in the 2019-2020 season. However, the English striker did not help Man Utd leave the Camp Nou with the victory. The goals of Marcos Alonso and Raphinha helped Barca towards the second leg at Old Trafford on February 23 with a result of 2-2.
With the away goals rule no longer applied, Barca and Man Utd will enter a penalty shootout if they continue to draw when they play again in Manchester.
