Only Leeds (15) conceded more goals from set-piece scenarios in the Premier League than Manchester United (14) in the 2020/21 season and that explains why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was receptive to the recommendation of coach Eric Ramsay.
Ramsay went to school in Llanfyllin, a small town in Wales, he studied sports science at Loughborough University and worked in academies at Swansea and Shrewsbury before being appointed assistant manager with Chelsea's Under-23s, whilst he also became the youngest Brit to gain his UEFA Pro Licence badge during that stint, which is the top coaching qualification in the game.
He studied at university alongside former coach Kieran McKenna and had managed to build a lofty reputation before he was appointed by Solskjaer in the summer of 2021, but the young coach, who was brought to the club 'work one-on-one with individual players' and 'take ownership over training on the side's set-plays', did not enjoy a prosperous first year at Old Trafford.
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Solskjaer was sacked in November, the club endured its worst season for decades and set-pieces remained a problem area. Ramsay was able to help address the defensive weakness from set-pieces, at least, but scoring from them was still an issue.
United scored just seven goals from set-piece scenarios last season and only Watford and Norwich, who were both relegated, managed to score from fewer, although the vulnerability at the back had seemed to be addressed, encouragingly.
After conceding 14 goals from set-pieces in 2020/21, that number fell to an impressive six in 2021/22, which was the fourth-best record in the Premier League. Ramsay was helping at the back and his next challenge was to help the first-team score more goals.
His future was uncertain after the arrival of Erik ten Hag, though, but the Dutchman retained Ramsay on his coaching staff, alongside Mitchell van der Gaag, Steve McClaren, Benni McCarthy and Richard Hartis, and that decision is now bearing fruit.
United have continued to improve at defending set-pieces this season, having conceded just four goals from those scenarios, which is a fraction of the worrying total of 14 in the entirety of the 2021/21 campaign, which prompted Solskjaer to appoint Ramsay.
In the last five years, the fewest goals United have conceded from set-piece scenarios in a Premier League season was last term with six, despite the awful results, and that was Ramsay's first campaign as part of the club's coaching staff.
Ten Hag's side have conceded four goals from set-pieces in the league this term, but they remain on track for a decent record in that area and there have also been goals from attacking scenarios in recent matches against Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth.
Marcus Rashford and Christian Eriksen combined in impressive fashion against Forest, with the midfielder executing a corner routine from the training ground to find Rashford, and Ramsay was lauded for his involvement in that goal after that 3-0 victory.
When asked how many times they had tried it in training, Eriksen said: "Twice, but different pitch, it wasn't as wet. It is always different with opposition." And whose idea was it? "Set-piece coach, Eric, I think it's from him. Yeah, It came off perfect," he added.
Ramsay has helped to make a significant improvement to the first-team's defending of set-pieces and he now appears to be making progress at the other end of the pitch, which is still an area which he'll be aware needs to be better.
Arsenal and Manchester City, who have set the pace in the Premier League, have both scored from seven set-pieces in this campaign and United need to be looking to equal those sides in every area across the pitch, in order to eventually close the gap.
Ten Hag is a meticulous manager, which means conversations will be had with Ramsay about improving the side's threat from set-pieces, but the Welsh coach has made stellar headway in defending those scenarios and that bodes well for the attack.
Although Ramsay was inevitably attached to Solskjaer last season and some suggested he should leave the club, following McKenna, Michael Carrick and Martyn Pert through the exit door, it seems United have benefited from him being retained.
“We've been fortunate enough to convince Eric Ramsay to come and join the best club in the world and in the country,” Solskjaer said when he joined United in 2021 and the set-piece coach is now helping Ten Hag's side improve the minor details which matter.
The small margins can decide titles and Ten Hag and his staff are making notable progress, especially for a 'transitional season'.
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