The pressure was already on Manchester United but the weekend’s results have turned up the heat even more.
After Chelsea and Newcastle United’s convincing wins, United have to turn up away at Crystal Palace to maintain their push for any European place at all.
Palace have started to rediscover their mojo under Oliver Glasner and on their day, are capable of playing some breathtaking stuff.
In their past four games, they’ve already knocked off Liverpool and Newcastle, a run which also included a 5-2 home victory over West Ham United.
This game is the definition of a banana skin for a struggling United who never look in control of any game. Here are the three tactical themes that will decide the game-
Pressing machine vs panic stations
Oliver Glasner was famed for his relentless pressing style in the Bundesliga as he is another from a factory of Bundesliga coaches branched from Ralf Rangnick’s “gegenpressing” philosophy.
Unfortunately for United, a pressing team is the worst matchup for this jittery buildup. Even Burnley’s comparatively relaxed press got an error out of United last weekend as Onana gifted them a goal. If it’s not the keeper, it’s a midfielder or a defender panicking under the press.
This game will be the fight of a pressing machine in Palace vs United’s perpetual panic stations, especially with Harry Maguire leaving United with zero completely fit centre-backs as Jonny Evans might have to be rushed back.
Michael Olise vs Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Could this be Michael Olise’s big audition for a Manchester United move in the summer? First off, it is not yet certain if Ten Hag will play Wan-Bissaka on the left or Diogo Dalot.
Last year, Wan-Bissaka would have been the easy answer because of his shutdown defensive qualities but that version of the player is missing now. In his place is an underconfident fullback who struggles as much in defence as he does in attack.
Olise is not the kind of player he would want to face. The Frenchman has truly announced himself to elite clubs with his silky play this season. He finds pockets of space and pops up with the occasional golazo. Wan-Bissaka defending on his wrong side (he’s right-footed) might make it even more difficult for him when Olise’s fullback overlaps and makes a two-on-one situation on the wings.
Garnacho will have to run his socks off to protect whoever United’s left-back is because Olise is a handful.
Rasmus Hojlund vs Dean Henderson
It’s a part of the script, isn’t it? United’s academy kid gets sold to Premier League rivals and has a worldie against his old club when he has a point to prove.
Henderson has long put behind his jittery start at Selhurst Park and is now showing the qualities that once had people marking him as a future England No 1.
He will be extremely motivated to show United what they missed out on by outperforming Andre Onana on the day. A victory will be even sweeter.
Rasmus Hojlund needs to step up and spoil his day. The Dane looked like he was back in scoring touch after his effort against Sheffield United but Burnley was another step back.
He struggles to get involved in games and has a pure poacher-like game sometimes where he isn’t doing anything if he isn’t scoring. He needs to do just that if United are to avoid the double ignominy of not just losing to Palace, but giving Henderson something to celebrate about.
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