Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, has recently put forward the idea of utilizing Jadon Sancho as the central striker for the team at the beginning of the season, due to the absence of Rasmus Hojlund who is out with a hamstring injury. Sancho made his return to the squad after a long absence and was placed in the No. 9 position in recent matches against Real Betis and Liverpool. Ten Hag has even hinted that Sancho could start in the same position in the upcoming games against Manchester City and Fulham.
On the other hand, the newly signed player, Joshua Zirkzee, is also being considered for the central striker role. However, since Zirkzee is still new to the squad and English football in general, it might take some time for him to adapt to the team’s style of play. Ten Hag mentioned that Zirkzee has just started training with the team and needs time to settle in before being considered for the starting XI.
Marcus Rashford, another key player for Manchester United, is also being discussed as a potential option to fill the void left by Hojlund’s absence. Although Rashford has experience playing as a striker, Ten Hag believes that Rashford’s productivity might be higher when he is deployed on the left flank and cuts inside. This allows Rashford to be more effective in creating and finishing goal-scoring opportunities.
Manchester United faced difficulties in finding the back of the net consistently last season, ending as one of the lowest-scoring teams in the top half of the Premier League. Despite creating chances, the team struggled with converting them into goals, as evident in the match against Liverpool where they missed several opportunities. Ten Hag emphasized the need for the team to be more clinical and efficient in front of goal to improve their attacking prowess.
In addition to their struggles in front of goal, Ten Hag also highlighted the issue of fatigue as a factor affecting the team’s performance. With a hectic schedule ahead, including both domestic and European competitions, it will be crucial for Manchester United to manage their players’ fitness levels effectively to avoid burnout and maintain high performance levels throughout the season.
Manchester United has a range of striking options available to them for the upcoming season, with Jadon Sancho, Joshua Zirkzee, and Marcus Rashford all being considered for the central striker role. Improving their goal-scoring capabilities and addressing issues such as fatigue will be key factors in determining the team’s success in the coming months. Ten Hag and his coaching staff will need to work on optimizing the team’s attacking strategies and ensuring that they are well-prepared for the challenges that lie ahead in the new season.