The Main Thing We Learned From Manchester United's Games Vs Atletico Madrid & Rayo Vallecano

Whilst it was two negative results for Erik ten Hag's Manchester United on the weekend, we have been able to see the huge importance of one player to the plans going forward under the new manager.

Against Atletico Madrid in Oslo, United just didn't have the clinical nature in the encounter, and also struggled to take advantage of the possession they had throughout.

Meanwhile, the following day saw United's worst performance in pre-season. Whilst it was a rotated team and there were still positives, the attacking link-up against Rayo Vallecano was not as good as previous tour matches.

The absolute centre-piece of United's good play during the tour is Jadon Sancho. It was no surprise that United's worst two attacking performances were whilst the English winger was unavailable through illness.

The Reds scored just twice in the two fixtures, meanwhile they scored 10 goals in the 223 minutes that he has played in pre-season.

Anthony Martial is another who has been impressive in the warm-up games for the Reds, but Sancho's ability is so sorely missed when he's not on the pitch.

Sancho even helps United's deeper build-up play

With a growing relationship with Diogo Dalot, the winger has began to have a role in United's build-up play. While Dalot inverts centrally, Sancho drifts to the touchline to open a passing lane up and ensure that United stretch the opposition.

Here, his close control, press resistance and ability to chose the correct pass are all vital in his role. We've often seen Harry Maguire play passes into his feet on that flank for him to then continue to move the ball despite immediate pressure. This allows the Reds to manipulate the opposition structure and find gaps in their lines.

Manchester United

Tahith Chong and Anthony Elanga were tasked with this role in the past two games, but neither are close to Sancho in any of the attributes listed, which in turn made it more difficult to progress the ball on the right-side.

Attacking play and transitional threat

Most importantly though, United's attacking threat — through both sustained periods of possession and transitional moments — was much worse without the playmaking winger.

He was controlling attacking moments in the opening four games of the tour, drifting inside in the attacking third and linking up with the often onrushing Dalot and the likes of Martial and Marcus Rashford.

In sustained attacks, he was finding the gaps in behind the opposition backline. Finally with players making the right runs, Sancho was beginning to find them more and more.

If it was a transitional moment, Sancho would constantly make the right movement and decision.

This created a balance across the frontline that has been a rare sight at Old Trafford in recent years. There was balance from both sides of the pitch. In fact, you could argue that United looked more threatening down the right side in those opening fixtures while Sancho was on the pitch.

Manchester United

However, the drop off with the two wingers in the last two games has been worrying. Neither have the same skillsets as Sancho and play the game much differently, and to a lower level. This recreates the left-side heavy play that we've seen from the Reds in recent times.

Elanga is a left-winger who does not want the ball to feet. He can dribble in transitional moments, but isn't a capable player to help build play on the right side in settled possession. Meanwhile, Chong looks like he's out of his depth at the level and could be one to sell on this summer.

What should United do?

In short, it's difficult to replace a player like Sancho when he's unavailable. But, the best that you can do is have a player with similar traits as his understudy.

Both Chong and Elanga are completely different wingers to the 22-year-old, this created problems throughout the team.

Dalot was not as impressive, as he was reluctant to make the forward runs that he would with Sancho when Elanga was operating in front of him.

It's pretty obvious that a new right-winger from the transfer market for depth is the best solution, but if this is not possible; there is a player who has similar traits in the United squad.

Amad was on the scoresheet against Rayo Vallecano just three minutes after coming on off the bench. While he's operated more centrally during pre-season, he's the one United winger comfortable from the right other than Sancho.

Alamy

Alejandro Garnacho is another exciting prospect, but his future lies from the left-wing.

The Ivorian wide man is the best possible understudy at the club, despite largely underwhelming in his pre-season cameos.

He is a ball magnet like Sancho, and is keen to come inside, link-up and create from the half-space. This is similar to how the Englishman has been operating in attack.

Also, despite his small size, Amad is relatively press resistant and has a solid pass selection, which means he could play the role Sancho does in United's build-up.

Unless a new face in introduced, Amad needs to stay at the club next season as no other winger has a similar skillset to Sancho.

And the two latest pre-season games have taught us how imperative the forward is to Ten Hag's blueprint on the right side.