What did Manchester United’s game against Leeds show? Garnacho is not the man for the job, without Casemiro the midfield is porcelain

Comment: Manchester United failed to make it through their home league game against Leeds United, who are without a coach after the management sacked Jesse Marsch and have yet to find an adequate replacement to try and save the club from relegation to the Championship. The 2-2 draw was therefore a great success for the away side.

The Red Devils played a fairly decent game, but this was due to a poor start to the game, as Wilfried Gnonto scored in the first minute at Old Trafford. The home side had several chances after that, but it was Leeds United players again who enjoyed another goal, when Raphael Varane knocked the ball into his own net.

However, goals from Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were only enough for a point, for which the visitors are clearly happier. But what did this game show?

Garnacho needs experience

There is no doubt that Alejandro Garnacho is a great talent. He clearly showed that in Wednesday’s contest, in which he was very active. At 18 years old, to perform like that in the Premier League is impressive, and at a top club. Very few players can do that, but..

Activity is a nice thing, but you need to be a bit effective. Garnacho hasn’t been able to do that and hasn’t shown that in the long term. The Argentine winger needs time to mature. But Erik ten Hag can’t build the team’s success on him now.

But if his development continues at this pace, Manchester United will very soon have a great winger who will in turn be an essential part of the starting line-up.

Weghorst has once again shown nothing

Wout Weghorst came to Old Trafford for one thing and one thing only and that is to score goals. However, he hasn’t made a single appearance in the Premier League so far. Moreover, compared to Garnach, he hasn’t even been seen that much. Therefore, it’s not that much of a surprise that the moment he left, the Red Devils were able to push through.

And coincidentally, it happened in exactly the style you’d expect from the Dutch striker, after a centre into the box that found Rashford and his header reduced it to 2-1.

Weghorst doesn’t belong in the starting line-up either. He’s slowing the game down and his skills are being stifled. It would have made more sense if he had come to do aerial duels with tired defenders towards the end of the game. However, it’s also due to the large number of players on the pitch, which is probably why he gets so much space on the pitch.

How important it is to have Casemiro

Ten Hag sent on the centre pairing of Marcel Sabitzer – Fred against Leeds United. It can’t be said that they completely fell through, especially in the case of the Austrian midfielder we could watch a hilarious performance for a first start in the starting lineup.

However, Casemiro is on a completely different level and I dare say that if he was on the pitch, many of the turnovers and counter attacks would not have taken place at all. This particular post will need to be strengthened more as Manchester United are practically half-strength without the Brazilian midfielder, which is not possible in the long run.

Against the top teams, then, this shortfall is very likely to become even more pronounced.

Sources: Premier League, Whoscored