Once again, an Erik ten Hag substitute was one of the standout players in a key Manchester United match.
It’s becoming quite the occurrence - Marcus Rashford’s strike against Wolves, Alejandro Garnacho’s assist versus Manchester City, Antony’s winner over Barcelona. And that’s just after Christmas.
It’s not often that a benched defender ranks within the 'super sub' category, though. That changed on Sunday in United’s League Cup final win over Newcastle.
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Aaron Wan-Bissaka showed in 48 minutes, stoppage time included, why he is now a must-start star going forward. The right-back was unlucky not to begin the cup final after fielding off the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Phil Foden and Sergi Roberto within the past month or so.
Erik ten Hag instead gave Diogo Dalot the nod, despite starting both Europa League games against Barcelona on the bench. The Portugal star has found it hard to re-pin down his place in the starting XI amid Wan-Bissaka’s good form and has now completed a full 90 minutes in just one of his last four starts.
His selection ahead of Wan-Bissaka signalled that Ten Hag had an intention of attacking but Newcastle star Allan Saint-Maximin had him mostly backtracking.
The Frenchman created the first chance of the final when he bamboozled Dalot on the byline to smash the ball goalwards, which David de Gea had to save.
Dalot was shown a yellow card for leaving one on Saint-Maximin on nine minutes and, although he survived the first period, Ten Hag was not willing to let him walk a tightrope for the second half.
It was no surprise to see Wan-Bissaka come on at half-time and he made a telling impact. Saint-Maximin was Newcastle’s most threatening-looking player during the contest but, for all his fast feet and spins, he failed to beat his marker once before being taken off 12 minutes from time.
Wan-Bissaka put in seven tackles during his outing, the most out of any player on the pitch despite playing for just half of the game. In doing so, he equalled N’Golo Kante’s 2019 League Cup final tally despite playing 75 fewer minutes.
Of the 13 passes he attempted, 10 were successful and he even mustered a shot at one stage, which was blocked away. You would not have known he had played only four minutes before the World Cup.
It signals a remarkable comeback from the defender, who looked destined for the exit door after being offered to clubs in the summer to no avail. Injury and illness had stunted the first half of his season and the World Cup break came as a unique and much-needed reset.
Wan-Bissaka is surely now a key starter for United, who have six games to fit in before March’s international break. His wit and calm-headedness came to the fore in United’s biggest game so far this season, and Ten Hag will have noted that.
The United boss has always insisted Wan-Bissaka has a future at the club and over the past two months we have seen why.
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