Erik ten Hag really can do no wrong at Manchester United.
The manager's latest trick is his most outlandish yet, and could bring success against Barcelona on Thursday night. With options limited, Ten Hag has moved giant striker Wout Weghorst, the man tasked with replacing Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals, into the No 10 role, the only position on the pitch where it pays to be diminutive.
Weghorst has his detractors, with social media awash with snide jibes as the Dutchman missed chance after chance against Leicester on Sunday, but for those who can appreciate all elements to a player’s game, offensively and defensively, it is clear that United are far better off with Weghorst in the team than they ever were with Ronaldo 2.0.
The affection the rest of his teammates hold for Weghorst, seen as a back-up signing in January but one of the few to start every game for United since he joined, was palpable on Sunday, as the last 15 minutes became an exercise in creating chances for the Dutchman – and nobody else – to get on the scoresheet.
Would they have done the same for Ronaldo, the disruptive influence who stormed out of stadiums when substituted and was regularly seen berating teammates whenever they dared not give him the ball?
“I love Wout Weghorst,” former United defender Gary Neville said on Sunday. “You have to admire Erik ten Hag picking him for every single match.
“I asked Ten Hag about that before the game. He feels he brings something to the team, and I can see why. Man United last season, there was this debate about whether or not they could press with Cristiano Ronaldo.
"They couldn’t close down from the front. They couldn’t press. You have to be able to press in the modern game.”
There were times when the play did seem to go on around Weghorst against Barcelona in last week’s exhilarating Europa League play-off first leg, as if he was the maypole and ribbons were stretched off at all angles around him.
Barcelona v Man United - player ratings
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BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6 Solid throughout the first half and bailed out his side with a fine one-on-one block from Weghorst, but questions will be rightly asked about his near-post frailty for Rashford’s equaliser. AFP -
Ronald Araujo – 6 Eventful evening for the combative Uruguayan, who had the crowd up on their feet with his robust approach early on, but found himself outwitted more than once and was also fortunate that a penalty area lapse in concentration went unpunished by Sancho. AP -
Jules Kounde – 3 Switched back to a central position and lost Weghorst for big chance of the first half, then played Rashford onside for the forward’s quickfire equaliser. Capped a patchy display by deflecting in United’s second goal from close-range and fortunately avoiding a penalty for fouling Rashford. AP -
Marcos Alonso – 7 Made a crucial early block from Fernandes’ close-range shot. Continued his fine scoring record against United by heading in the opening goal, then made another key block to preserve parity as the visitors hit back. Removed in a triple substitution as Xavi looked to claw his team back into the tie. AP -
Jordi Alba – 6 Heavily involved in the opening exchanges as Barca targeted United’s right flank. Had one surge and shot curtailed by a fine last-ditch Wan-Bissaka block, then returned the favour in the second period when the ball broke to the visiting right-back. Booked for dissent after 30 minutes. EPA -
Frenkie De Jong – 6 A mixed bag from the man United spent all summer tailing. Wonderfully calm in possession, pinged a fine through-ball for Lewandowski which the Pole wasted, but didn’t have enough answers in the defensive side of the midfield battle and often found himself bypassed during the visitors’ period of pressure. PA -
Franck Kessie – 4 Ineffective for long periods, allowing United to gain a foothold in the game. Couldn’t provide an adequate shield for his side’s rejigged defence and it was unsurprising when Xavi hooked him after falling behind. AP -
Raphina – 8 Posed Malacia problems all night and put in a fine defensive shift. Clearly determined to excel and almost broke the deadlock with a sensationally crisp effort just after half-time. Slung in a decent back-post corner for Alonso’s opener, then drew a superb full-length catch from De Gea before levelling with a wicked cross which crept into the far corner. Rightly furious to be substituted. PA -
Pedri – 7 A bright display cruelly curtailed by injury. Fired over with an instinctive volley after Gavi’s inventive lobbed pass and looked a fruitful outlet for the hosts’ attacks before an apparent thigh injury prompted an end to his involvement. Getty -
Gavi – 6 Put Wan-Bissaka in nervy mood early on with his lively, direct running. Not afraid to shirk a challenge and had one miniature skirmish with Fernandes. Booked for yanking back Fred during a second-half United counter and will sit out the second leg as a result. Getty -
Robert Lewandowski – 6 Tested De Gea with a powerful early effort, but passed up a more inviting opening midway through the first period by failing to control De Jong’s incisive ball. Fizzed a decent free-kick just over the bar as the hosts looked to get back in the game. Reuters -
SUBS: Sergi Roberto (Pedri, 41) – 5 Joined in place of the injured Pedri but couldn’t match the youngster’s invention in a low-key display. He was, however, involved in almost winning the first leg late on as the ball ricocheted off De Gea’s upright. Getty -
Andreas Christensen (Marcos Alonso, 67) – 6 Introduced while the hosts were rocking defensively and helped steady the ship. AP -
Ansu Fati (Franck Kessie, 67) – 6 Had one powerful late effort well pawed away by De Gea and had an effort just wide from the edge of the box. Keen to make things happen. Reuters -
Alejandro Balde (Jordi Alba, 67) – 5 Youngster was on the fringes of the game from his introduction, but came alive in injury-time and began causing issues for United. Ferran Torres (Raphinha, 83) – N/A. AFP -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 7 - Strong near post save from Lewandowski early on. And from Alba on 37 minutes. Busy second half. Will be frustrated to watch Barcelona’s second goal again, but while he didn’t touch it, Lewandowski was a decoy. Saved from Ansu Fati as Barça pushed for a winner. AP -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6 - Blocked a dangerous 10th minute ball across, then got forward on the right on 26, beat his man and crossed towards Sancho. Slack collecting a 37th minute ball, which Alba won, but recovered well. Ball went across his arm and Barcelona players appealed for a penalty. Getty -
Raphael Varane 7 - Booed when his name was read out and invoked further jeers when he grappled with Lewandowski. Booked after clipping Gavi, who’d beat him. Watched as a Raphinha effort went past him and Lewandowski into the goal. Could have done better there. AP -
Luke Shaw 7 - Tough night against Lewandowski and Raphinha. Blocked a shot from Pedri and presence was enough to stop Lewandowski attempting a first-half shot. Turned away a De Jong effort after the break. Poor ball out to Casemiro before Barcelona’s second goal. AFP -
Tyrell Malacia 6 - Dangerous down the left at the start and Raphinha struggled to get the better of him, which frustrated home fans. Booked in a game where Barcelona had 18 goal attempts and United had 17. AFP -
Casemiro 8 - Jeered for his association with Real Madrid, he glanced a 29th minute header towards goal. Booked. Lost the ball to Kounde before Barcelona’s second. He was excellent and gave the bullets which helped United’s attackers be so effective, but that was a bad error. Also struck the ball against his own post. Getty -
Bruno Fernandes 7 - Started with intent and a cross towards Fred in the opening seconds. Free-kick in after 29 was met by Casemiro’s head. Backflick across goal led to equaliser. PA -
Wout Weghorst 6 - A surprise as he was selected in a midfield role, which he worked hard at. Important moment came after 27 when he was clear through. Ter Stegen made himself big, but he should have scored. AFP -
Fred 7 - All over the place. Smashed by Kessie in a 28th minute challenge. Alonso got behind him to put the Catalans ahead. He and Gavi – who was booked for pulling him - were two bulls in the same pen. Sent Rashford away to score the second. Confident and shot wide from outside the area on 67 after winning the ball. AFP -
Jadon Sancho 6 - Right position to meet a first half Wan-Bissaka cross, but messed it up on a night when Erik ten Hag said his side should have scored four goals. Cursed himself after shooting wide on 48. Alert and won possession back after 77. EPA -
Marcus Rashford 9 - Lively all first half. A 33rd minute shot was scooped wide by Ter Stegen. Got the equaliser on 53, beating Ter Stegen at the near post. Dribbled along byline to create the second. Appealed for a penalty after being brought down by Kounde. Sliced a shot wide on 80. Getty -
SUB: Alejandro Garnacho 6 - On for Sancho after 81. The headlines were waiting to be written, but the man from Madrid couldn’t win the game in Barcelona. PA
But it is what he does off the ball and the selflessness – the antithesis of what Ronaldo offered – that makes him so useful to teammates, coaches and the greater good.
Ronaldo attempted two tackles in 10 appearances this season in the Premier League before his acrimonious departure, as many as Weghorst produced in one half against Leicester.
Ronaldo’s fiercely loyal fanbase will point to how bit-part the veteran superstar’s role was this season, but last term was no better – eight tackles in 30 appearances.
The traditionalists will point to how goals are more important than tackles as a striker, forgetting the fundamental principles behind the best two teams to have graced the Premier League in recent years – Manchester City and Liverpool.
Yes, City play some of the most free-flowing football ever witnessed, but their defensive unit, starting from the front, which in most seasons finishes with the fewest goals conceded, is paramount to their superiority. Liverpool’s inability to maintain their "gegenpress" approach is why they look a shadow of their former selves this campaign.
Weghorst leaves the goalscoring to others, with Marcus Rashford doing a fine job on that front, and is more than happy for Bruno Fernandes to remain creator-in-chief.
The Portuguese has been moved out wide to accommodate Weghorst the No 10 to devastating effect, operating in new-found space to create more chances than anyone else in a single league game against Leicester – nine.
His size will always make Weghorst a nuisance at set plays, in both boxes, but dragging defenders away from Rashford and Fernandes is one of the reasons the pair are in the form of their United lives, in unison.
Barcelona will come at United and United will come at Barcelona in the return leg at Old Trafford. Thursday promises to be a rip-roaring encounter after the 2-2 draw in the first leg. Players like Weghorst make such a spectacle possible.
He may not score the winner or have a direct hand in any goal, but his team-mates will certainly be welcoming him into any celebratory huddle – the workhorse does not always get the credit, but such characters do not necessarily need it.
Such a refreshing change from the petulance that came before.
