Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag made a bold tactical move by deploying right-back Noussair Mazraoui in the No. 10 role against Fenerbahce, leaving United legend Paul Scholes scratching his head.
Manchester United secured just one point in their Europa League 2024/25 matchday 3 encounter, which ended in a 1-1 draw at Ulker Stadium on Friday (October 25, 2024). Christian Eriksen opened the scoring for United in the first half, but Fenerbahce equalized through Youssef En-Nesyri early in the second half.
Following this result, United now have three points after drawing all three of their opening Europa League matches, currently placing them in 21st position in the standings.
Ten Hag’s Decision to Play Mazraoui as No. 10
For this match, Ten Hag deployed Mazraoui in the playmaker role to cover for the suspended Bruno Fernandes. Ten Hag explained his decision to TNT Sports:
“With a few injuries and Bruno’s suspension, we needed to be creative,” Ten Hag said. “We also had some players who needed to return for the West Ham game, so we made some lineup adjustments to maintain consistency.
“We had Eriksen and Manu as No. 6s and put Nous Mazraoui at No. 10. I’ve used him there before at Ajax, and as a wing-back in our system, he often plays in central areas, so he can handle this role and apply good pressure.”
Scholes Left Baffled
However, Paul Scholes was not convinced, calling the decision and Ten Hag’s reasoning “puzzling.”
“I’m confused by it, honestly. Even his explanation sounds confusing,” Scholes remarked. “I think Eriksen could handle that role better.
“I just hope Mazraoui understands his role better than I do. It’s hard for me to grasp Ten Hag’s explanation. I don’t see Mazraoui as a No. 10.”
This unusual lineup decision has sparked considerable debate among fans and analysts alike, adding pressure on Ten Hag as United continue their challenging Europa League campaign.
(Source: Goal International)
