Manchester United’s recent history bodes well as they prepare to face Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup third round on Monday night.
United have won 18 of the last 19 meetings against the Latics. Wigan’s lone victory in this meeting came in April 2012, when Shaun Maloney scored. A decade later, rather than as a winger, the 40-year-old will be on the pitch as Wigan’s manager.
In the opposing dugout, Erik ten Hag has been haunted by an infinite series of awful historical landmarks. United had 21 defeats in all competitions in 2023, the highest in a single calendar year since 1972.
Here’s how Ten Hag may avoid getting off to a bad start in 2024.
Ignore the likelihood of a volatile future
Manchester United signed a flurry of contract extensions in the week leading up to their visit to the DW Stadium. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Hannibal Mejbri, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka all remained, despite several notable exclusions from the list of triggered clauses.
While Anthony Martial’s position has long been unknown, Raphael Varane has joined his compatriot in the limbo as his contract nears its end.
Varane’s significance in the present, however, should not be eclipsed by an uncertain future. Following his strange exile, the Frenchman has been one of the few United personalities to provide some form of assurance in recent weeks. Even if Ten Hag has some more defensive personnel available due to injuries, it is crucial to continue with Varane.
Make connections
“It is clear that we are inconsistent,” Ten Hag said after United’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend. “Every time I say that it doesn’t matter how we line up, we have to win,” he says, “but the routines aren’t there because we have to swap every time.” Football is fast, thus communication must be swift.
Keeping the same players in the hopes of getting different results, on the other hand, is the definition of insanity. Antony exemplifies the perils of being stubborn. The one-footed Brazilian has made 23 appearances for United in all competitions, but has yet to score or create a goal. Antony last contributed to a goal away from Old Trafford in mid-April 2023.
United’s brilliant teenage winger Amad Diallo has returned from injury and replaced Antony in the second half of the defeat against Forest. He might make his debut as early as Monday.
Keep an eye out for set pieces
On Boxing Day, Manchester United conceded from two distinct deadball situations in four first-half minutes against Aston Villa. The hosts were bewildered by Villa’s unusual positioning of inactive players, but set pieces have proved a vulnerability for United all season, with the club shipping seven in the Premier League alone.
Maloney was in charge of set pieces when working as Roberto Martinez’s assistant with the Belgian national team, and he had to fight his boss to divert training time to focus on his routines.
As Wigan’s main man, Maloney has clearly prioritized this neglected aspect of the game; just three League One sides have scored more set-piece goals this season than Wigan (ten). United should exercise caution.
Wigan play at a slower pace
While Maloney and Martinez disagreed on the importance of dead balls (the Spanish coach stated that set-piece goals should be worth half the value of an open-play goal), both teams are obsessed with possession.
Wigan play a particular style in League One, holding onto the ball for extended periods of time and steadily working their way up the pitch, avoiding any rapid breaks. Wigan, on the other side, does not push hard to recapture possession, resulting in the third division’s fewest high turnovers.
Ten Hag appears to have slowed United’s pace in an attempt to lessen the wild displays in the early months of the season, turning their most recent outings into frustratingly slow affairs.
Wigan’s unconventional style implies a dismal performance, but United are at their finest when their quick-footed forwards have space to surge into during transitional situations. Ten Hag might be told to let go of the handbrake on Monday for the sake of the fans and the team’s success.