Erik ten Hag has explained his shock decision to deploy Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui in a surprising position against Fenerbahce.
The Dutchman stunned fans by starting the Morocco full-back in a seemingly unfamiliar No10 role in Thursday night’s feisty Europa League clash in Istanbul, which saw Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho sent off against his former club as Youssef En-Nesyri struck to cancel out Christian Eriksen’s opening goal in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
“I know him from before, at Ajax I played him there,” Ten Hag said of summer signing Mazraoui ahead of the game in Turkey. “Also as a full-back, he plays in the half-spaces. So he’s capable to do this job”
Asked after the match why he did not start Amad Diallo against Fenerbahce instead, the Dutchman said: “Away from Europe to start with four attackers is too much. I made him (Mazraoui) a full-back.
“He was always a number 10. I knew he could fill in with that role, he had a big role in the goal. You can always move him back. Antony is training very good. Amad had some good actions."
Ten Hag did not start Amad or turn to him when replacing Marcus Rashford in the second half against Fenerbahce, instead sending on Antony - who was stretchered off after just 16 minutes and was later spotted leaving the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on crutches, which finally led to the Ivorian’s introduction off the bench for stoppage time.
Ten Hag added: "Amad, he is doing well. But I must also reward the performances of Antony in training. He is a threat almost every training session, so I felt in that moment the right thing to do was bring him on to decide the game."
Midfielder Manuel Ugarte impressed for United against Fenerbahce, making a block to deny a certain goal in the first half as well as winning the ball in the build-up to Eriksen’s opener.
When asked if it was Ugarte’s best performance for United yet, Ten Hag replied: “Yes, I think so.
“He has to come into the team. The six role is very important. He has to learn how we play. I was happy with his performance today.”
On United’s third successive draw in the Europa League, Ten Hag added: “Two tough away games. Of course when you are taking the lead, it [drawing] shouldn’t happen, we had chances to make a second goal. Disappointed not to win. At Old Trafford we have to win games.
“Fenerbahce are a very good club, with very good fans and some good players. It would be a very good final. We should keep the ball better in the first half. We should score more goals but to be honest they also created good chances.
“They gave us some problems. They are a good team with a good manager. It is not a bad point. But we want to win. We want to win every game."
