Manchester United has acquired a second replacement for Christian Eriksen, joining Marcel Sabitzer.
Christian Eriksen will be sidelined for three months, prompting Manchester United to immediately acquire Marcel Sabitzer.
Tuesday at approximately noon, did you hear that unusual thud? Thousands of Manchester United supporters’ hearts sank upon hearing the news of Christian Eriksen’s injury.
While there was concern over missing Casemiro for just one game when he received his fifth booking of the season, the reaction to Eriksen’s injury was one of resigned acceptance that the season had just become considerably more difficult.
Such was the significance of the Eriksen-Casemiro axis. The seasoned combination has improved United’s midfield this season by restoring long-lost ball skills. United have only lost twice when both players have started: the 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad on the Brazilian’s debut, in which Eriksen was substituted at halftime, and the shocking 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa. Without the midfield duo, the team has lost four contests.
It makes the prospect of Eriksen’s absence for three months frightening. There are a number of crucial matches on four different fronts coming up, and if United’s resurgence’s driving force is unavailable, the wheels could fall off.
As soon as the severity of the Dane’s injury became apparent, the club moved swiftly to acquire Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich for the remainder of the season. The all-action midfielder has struggled to regain his best form as a bench player for the Bundesliga champions, but he was a regular attacking outlet for RB Leipzig, where he tallied 52 goals and 42 assists.
Sabitzer appears to be a wise choice and a player who can replace the vacuum left by Eriksen. However, he is not the only option available to Erik ten Hag. Fred, who has been out of the spotlight because he has been unable to displace the untouchable first-choice midfield duo, has been quietly improving quite a bit in the background.
Ten Hag has utilized the Brazilian effectively as a late-game substitute in the majority of games, even though he does not start many games. However, not in a defensive sense. Instead of being constrained to a holding position, which has always hampered his finest qualities at Old Trafford, he will be permitted to utilize his inexhaustible energy and exert his presence around the pitch.
It is paying handsomely, particularly in front of the net. Fred has scored four goals this season, which is a third of his total goals since joining the club in 2018. Before this season, Fred scored a goal once every 1,434.75 minutes. Currently, he receives one every 261 minutes.
To say the least, this is a dramatic improvement. It’s not because he’s gotten better at finishing; it’s because he’s allowed to enter the box and has been instructed on how to position himself so that he can capitalize on opportunities.
Fred won’t be able to replicate Eriksen’s ability in possession or distribution, but he has developed into an impactful attacking player for United, which could help mitigate the impact of an important absence.
Manchester United has acquired a second replacement for Christian Eriksen, joining Marcel Sabitzer.
