There’s no news here: I’m a big fan of Ruben.

However, I think we all need to assume that it really seems some things are sticking with the team.

Just as posted recently, the team is improving and competing, even with all the struggles, ups and downs, suspensions, injuries and lack of standards.

It doesn’t mean that players are now amazing and super talented.

Nothing like that.

However, the team is slowly improving.

The team is now understanding better where to be positioned in different moments, knows where to pass (or where to expect players to be).

And individually, some players (as I’ve shared before), are becoming pleasant surprises!

And time (and patience) will bring brighter results.

Why miracles?

Let’s look at each teams subs yesterday:
. Manchester Untied – Dermont Mee; Harrison; Amass; Jack Fletcher; Moorhouse; Chido Obi-Martin; Collyer; Heaven; Højlund.

. Arsenal – Neto; Ben White; Tierney; Martinelli; Lewis-Skelly; Zinchenko; Jakub Kiwior; Jorginho; Raheem Sterling

Staggering, right?

If we only look at the players that did not even played on Arsenal side – Neto, White, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Jorginho and Sterling – there are among them more than 40 titles, almost all between the English, Spanish and Italian Leagues.

More titles than the entire United’s bench has presences in the Premier League (except for Højlund)!

Secondly, the starting XI of Manchester United on this match complies, at least, 2 players that will most likely not be part of the team for next Season, because their contract ends in June – Lindelöf and Eriksen.

Furthermore, without judging performances, Yoro is only playing since December, after a severe injury, and Casemiro hasn’t been a regular option, playing only 14 out of 26 Games under Ruben and only played for 90 min in the previous match against Real Sociedad and in another occasion against Tottenham in February – with only 513 minutes played from the 24 matches before that (total of 2160min), or 23,75%.

Basically, the team is performing with players that not only are likely looking to solve their lives in a different place, but also players that aren’t exactly supposed to be performing at top.

Still, the team is suffering but trying to survive and perform.

That means, hopefully, besides high levels of commitment and professionalism from these players, that the culture is starting to create roots.

Thirdly, with an overall average performance, with really low defensive lines and greater concerns in being compact, instead of being dominant – which is the end-line desired for the future, certainly – the team was still able to create as many danger situations as Arsenal (ie. 2 or 3 for each team).

With the pressure being on the Arsenal’s side, naturally, they had the expected dominant approach, but weren’t able to create many dangerous situations in offensive moments, relying more on set-pieces, etc.

Defensively, the team was not stable, surprisingly.

It seemed somehow easy for United to create dangerous opportunities.

On the United side, the team was almost in a GK+5+5 formation at times, from what I believe to be an original GK+5+4+1 intended.

However, due to the need of the Game and movements of Arsenal players, or due to the incapacity of Zirkzee to be an effective pressing player throughout the match and, consequently, forcing Bruno, Casemiro, Eriksen or Garnacho to leave their positions and press slightly higher than they were supposed (and causing some moments of being out-positioned), the team was forced to have 2 lines of 5 players, at times.

Wasn’t perfect, far from that.

It was needed to get a result on this match.

But could we expect anything different from such dismantled team?

For the future, some notes:

. Garnacho made his best performance, showing how comfortable he is in a counter-attack style of play, winning 70% of his duels, winning 50% of his dribles, and putting the effort for the team.

. Zirkzee, far from perfect, but keeps fighting to the best of his capabilities, and was able to connect the Game a few times, that turned out to be dangerous situations, reflecting the fluidity element that is so important in Ruben’s style of play from the striker.

. De Ligt keeps improving his positioning and understanding the advantages that Ruben’s style can bring to his abilities, winning almost all duels and dominating completely the aerial ones.

. Mazraoui and Dalot were very helpful in the defensive moments and an important element in offensive transitions, with one of the best opportunities for the team coming from a counter guided by Dalot, that crossed for Mazraoui to finish and almost scoring. Well done!

. Bruno and Casemiro did very well in the middle, with the Brazilian winning almost 80% of his duels and both having an average passing accuracy surpassing 85%.

In sum, far from perfect, definitely not the style of play that we should expect, but moments like these happen and are important.

My bet on Ruben vs Arteta is still ON, but here again, it can’t be playing like this.

Looking ahead, 3 days for a big match against Real Sociedad.

At the start of this qualification, I wasn’t very confident, I assume.

Real Sociedad is a solid squad, with important players and a style of play that can create a lot of problems to United.

Now, after the performance in Spain, after the match yesterday, assuming some crucial players can come back in time for this match, I think United has a chance.

However, United will probably need to assume the match more than in Spain (or vs Arsenal) and this will expose some limitations that still remain.

But, I’m hopeful.

What do you think?
Is United able to perform and keep on their pursuit to get a trophy by the end of the Season?

Let me know your perspective!

The data presented here is from sofascore and transfermarkt websites.