On a low-key evening at Old Trafford, amid a disjointed Manchester United performance and after a defeat by Real Sociedad to start Erik ten Hag’s first European campaign in charge, there was one positive: the same positive there has been for several weeks, now. Just as he did in the win over Arsenal on Sunday and the victory at Leicester City last week, Christian Eriksen impressed in the midfield role that he has fulfilled since aborted experiments as a false nine and number six.
Eriksen’s vision, composure and ability to break lines with his passing from midfield is the sort of thing that United have missed for several years in that area of the pitch, something that they can now call upon. At points during a flat first half, as a line-up with a smattering of second-string players struggled for fluency, he was the one of the few players who looked likely to make something happen.
