In an article written by soccersweep not too long ago, we spoke about how the sending off of Angel di Maria against Arsenal was the catalyst for Manchester United’s improved form.
THE RED CARD THAT SAVED MANCHESTER UNITED’S SEASON
Overall, we think that Louis van Gaal is a tactical genius and he certainly isn’t afraid to bench superstars – as seen with the treatment of Radamel Falcao and Di Maria himself. But the one game suspension of Di Maria, for flicking the referee in a moment of petulance, forced Van Gaal into a change that he wouldn’t necessarily have affected.
Van Gaal moved Juan Mata out to the right of a front three in Di Maria’s absence and Manchester United haven’t looked back since. In his weekly column with The London Evening Standard Paul Scholes said:
When I look back on the key changes, I still feel that Angel Di Maria’s red card against Arsenal was critical in allowing Van Gaal to build this new-look team. When I look at the side it seems to me to be a triumph of the underdog – Juan Mata, Marouane Fellaini, Ashley Young. All of whom looked like they could be out the picture at the start of the season and are now having a big impact.
For all the attention after the derby win over Manchester City on Fellaini and Young, a lot of the credit has to go to Mata. He has given United such composure. He is not a winger, in the conventional sense, but he comes inside and gets involved in the game. He always passes to a red shirt and he is so cool, as you saw with his finish against City.
Mata is finally demonstrating his wizardry under Louis van Gaal
He also reckons that Manchester United can win the game on Saturday:
I have been critical of my old club Manchester United under Louis Van Gaal this season and I have to say that I did not see this change in fortune coming. To the extent that when they go to Chelsea on Saturday, I think they have a good chance of winning the game.
We agree that Mata has been a revelation for Manchester United. And although there was perhaps a bit of luck in his recent return to the team and consequent revival, LvG still had to make a decision which, at the time, was greeted with consternation.
It was generally agreed that Mata had to play at number 10, as his lack of pace and athleticism prohibited effective performances in wider positions – that was, after all, the reason why Jose got rid right?
But, instead of putting Valencia or Januzaj out there, LvG made that call and Manchester United are an immeasurably better side for it.
The upshot is that you need a bit of luck to be successful but, in the case of Louis van Gaal, the harder you work the luckier you get…
