Jadon Sancho made his Manchester United debut in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
It was Sancho’s first game since late October, and before we get into his performance, let’s take a moment to appreciate Erik ten Hag’s astute timing in reintroducing the star.
Ten Hag chose the right moment.
Ten Hag chose the ideal game for Sancho’s return. Manchester United cruised into the Carabao Cup final in a high-profile game with relatively low stakes.
There was still time for Sancho to make a significant impact, and he did so. Ten Hag wisely introduced Sancho alongside Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, ensuring that the spotlight did not shine too brightly on the returning winger.
Sancho was able to play with complete freedom once on the field, thanks to a role that was specifically designed for the 22-year-old.
Ten Hag took a moment to make sure Sancho was taking in the crowd’s enthusiastic reception.
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Position shift for Sancho
Instead of playing out wide on the right wing, Jadon Sancho was brought on to play through the middle, with Bruno Fernandes shifting to the right.
It remains to be seen whether this lasts, but it was the right tactical move on the night, with Ten Hag’s collective changes helping United go from 0-0 to 2-0.
Sancho thrived in an attacking midfield role, and he was instrumental in the buildup to Fred’s second goal of the night.
Putting Sancho in this role puts him in a position where he can be most dangerous.
He will see more of the ball and will be able to dribble at opponents or pick out a pass. Opponents find it difficult to predict what he will do next.
When Sancho is stationed out wide, he becomes more predictable. Through the center, he has more options for which direction to run or teammates to pass to.
He has previously played in this position for Dortmund, as well as briefly in Ralf Rangnick’s ill-fated 4-2-2-2 formation.
Sancho found himself in plenty of space in counter-attacking positions as the game began to turn in United’s favor. This is where he can cause the most havoc on teams.
From a larger perspective, using Sancho in this role is smart squad management, as Manchester United is short on midfield options.
With Amad out on loan and Christian Eriksen injured, he has wingers but no one who can fill in for Bruno Fernandes in attacking midfield. Sancho emerges as a viable option for the position.
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