Man United"s unusual tactic: Mazraoui plays No 10 at Fenerbahce

Last Thursday, Manchester United faced Fenerbahce in a Europa League clash in Istanbul, where manager Erik ten Hag made a bold tactical decision by playing full-back Noussair Mazraoui as a No. 10. This move surprised many, considering Mazraoui's typical role on the right side of defense since joining the club from Bayern Munich earlier in the summer. Ten Hag's choice was rooted in his prior experience with Mazraoui at Ajax, believing that the player possesses the skills to operate effectively in more offensive positions, particularly given that he often occupies half spaces even as a full-back. Despite Ten Hag's rationale for the reshuffle, pundits expressed confusion regarding the decision. Paul Scholes articulated his bewilderment, questioning whether Mazraoui truly understood his new responsibilities on the field, while Owen Hargreaves acknowledged the element of surprise and hinted that Ten Hag might see potential that hadn't been tapped yet. The timing of this strategic pivot comes as Manchester United struggles in the early part of the season, finding themselves languishing in 12th place in the Premier League with only 11 points from eight matches. Such poor performance may have prompted Ten Hag to experiment with his lineup in hopes of finding an effective combination to better achieve results. This tactical gamble reflects the urgency of the situation at Manchester United, where the pressure on Ten Hag is mounting, urging him to explore unorthodox solutions to reinvigorate the team’s performance ahead of future matches.