Manchester United defeated Barnsley 7-0 to start their Carabao Cup campaign with a resounding victory.
The Red Devils won their largest game under Erik ten Hag and one of the biggest victories in Manchester United history at Old Trafford thanks to a commanding performance.
Eight changes were made by the Dutchman from the starting lineup against Southampton, with summer addition Manuel Ugarte making his midfield debut.
The first half saw goals from all three of United’s forwards. After scoring the first goal against the Saints, Marcus Rashford was full of confidence and added more goals in the second half.
With two goals and two assists, Alejandro Garnacho maintained his incredible start to the season with a “superstar” performance.
The unsung hero of Manchester United is Christian Eriksen.
Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, United’s attacking tandem, will undoubtedly get the limelight for their outstanding performances, but the unsung hero lurked in midfield, right behind them.
Bruno Fernandes, the club captain, took a little break against Barnsley before coming on as a late substitution. The decision was made to move Christian Eriksen into the advanced midfield position in his place.
Eriksen’s start against Southampton was a brilliant move by Ten Hag, and the Danish midfielder continued to play well heading into the Carabao Cup matchup with Barnsley.
He picked up the ball in space and found precise deliveries to the front three, frequently tearing through Barnsley’s defence.
Eriksen finished with 65 touches and an astounding 96 percent pass accuracy percentage. After skilfully setting up Garnacho for a 4-0 victory, he added two goals of his own in the closing moments and received an assist.
The 32-year-old played a defensive role as well, winning 75% of his duels. It was an absolutely perfect performance.
Ten Hag has come under fire for his inability to strike the correct balance in United’s midfield, but against Barnsley, with Eriksen, Casemiro, and Ugarte, he did just that.
The future of Christian Eriksen at Manchester United
This summer, Eriksen was on the verge of leaving Manchester United, only for his move to fall through at the last minute.
Over the summer, Eriksen’s previous team, Ajax, expressed interest in signing him, while Real Betis also looked at a possible loan arrangement.
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Eriksen, on the other hand, chose to remain at Old Trafford, where his contract will expire the following summer.
The arrival of Ugarte on deadline day and the rise of Kobbie Mainoo have reduced his playing time, but Eriksen showed against Barnsley that he still has a lot to contribute, even if he isn’t a regular starter.
Should the Danish international’s current form continue, United might have to think twice before letting Eriksen go.