When the team sheet emerged for Manchester United’s trip to Premier League challengers Arsenal in midweek, it’s fair to say one member of Ruben Amorim’s squad looked like he had a pretty daunting task ahead of him.
Tyrell Malacia had only made one Manchester United start since 2022/23, after all. The Netherlands international missed 17 months through injury, with his long-awaited return coming against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League just six days before the Red Devils travelled to the Emirates.
So, putting Malacia up against Bukayo Saka certainly felt like a throwing in at the deep end sort of move from Ruben Amorim.
Especially considering that, during the goal which put Bodo/Glimt ahead at Old Trafford, the former Feyenoord left-back did not exactly look like a man playing at full capacity.
But, as Tyrell Malacia held his own up against Saka and Arsenal, Amorim could argue that his shock inclusion had been justified.
Malacia only lasted 45 minutes of course – subbed off at the interval to avoid any risks of a setback – but this was a pretty impressive effort in extremely challenging circumstances.
READ: Tyrell Malacia to Manchester United – Five reasons the Red Devils are striking gold
Rio Ferdinand would love Manchester United to have a Bukayo Saka
Rio Ferdinand, the legendary Man United centre-back, cannot speak highly enough of The Gunners’ explosive number seven these days.
And while Saka was kept rather quiet by Malacia’s typically tigerish display, he did have a few months were he left the Dutchman looking dazed and confused.
Ferdinand applauds the way Saka has instilled a sense of unpredictability into his game. Where he would usually shift infield onto his left boot – like when scoring that stunning equaliser against Erik ten Hag’s Man United in January 2023 – Saka’s new-found two-footedness frequently keeps his marker guessing.
“What I was so happy with seeing with Saka, his game is evolving every single time I see him. Every year, every month so far, his game has evolved,” Ferdinand raves.
“[Last year I thought] he was a bit one-dimensional, coming inside onto his left foot. [Against Man United] two of his best players came from going down the outside and putting the ball in with his right foot, creating havoc.
“He is now asking questions of defenders in different ways.”
Ferdinand hopes Ruben Amorim will improve Man United’s frontline
Ferdinand has concerns over Man United’s attack, questioning whether the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund can really produce the goods on a consistent enough basis to achieve what Ruben Amorim wants at Old Trafford.
By his own admission, he would relish a forward of Saka’s consistency and class in a Man United shirt.
“I would love to have an attacking player like that at Man United, I would go as far as to say that, because he is someone you can rely on,” the 2008 Champions League winner adds.
“He works hard, he makes the right decisions, and he’s efficient and effective. We need to find that with our team at Man United.
“That is going to come from great coaching, which I think we’ve got now. That is going to come from players buying into [Amorim’s methods], and players that have the intelligence to understand what the manager wants.”
But perhaps Man United already have their own Bukayo Saka alternative.
Amad Diallo has made a flying start under Ruben Amorim, with many of the attributes Ferdinand rattles off when discussing Saka also pretty descriptive of the baby-faced Ivorian.
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