When Pep Guardiola took his team from Manchester City to Old Trafford in November 2021, he had only one thing in mind when it came to stopping the Manchester United threat.
“If you attack a little faster, they will attack you much, much faster,” he said. “They are much better in the transitions.”
More than a year has passed and United’s attacking transition skills are still there. Their attackers’ profiles give United the upper hand in situations where they’ve just regained the ball and want to attack quickly. The non-ball improvements under Erik ten Hag also contribute to this.
Effective pressing, improved counter-pressing and better defensive organization allow United to regain the ball to start the transition. Compared to previous seasons, United are recovering the ball more often in the final third under Ten Hag in the Premier League – recovering the ball 3.48 times per 90 in the attacking third of the pitch.
| season | High profits per 90 |
|---|---|
2018-19 | 2.29 |
2019-20 | 2.74 |
2020-21 | 3.08 |
2021-22 | 3.24 |
2022-23 | 3.48 |
And even if they win in their own half, United’s speed and directness in transition will slice through opposition lines before they can retreat into a defensive form. The number of direct attacks United have made on average this season – defined as possession starting in a team’s defensive half and resulting in a shot or touch in the opponent’s penalty area within 15 seconds – is also higher than in previous seasons . They lead the league with 82 direct attacks.
| season | Direct Attacks per 90 |
|---|---|
2018-19 | 3.16 |
2019-20 | 3.53 |
2020-21 | 2.89 |
2021-22 | 2.82 |
2022-23 | 3.57 |
No wonder Ten Hag’s side have scored the most goals from fast counterattacks in the Premier League this season (six). A quick break is defined by Opta as a try after the defensive team quickly turns defense into attack after winning the ball in their own half. Quite simply: a counterattack.
The addition of Casemiro has increased United’s ball-winning ability in the middle of the field, which has resulted in more transitional situations being created. Add that to Bruno Fernande’s understanding of space and Marcus Rashford’s electric form, and United are a nightmare to have just regained the ball, whether in their own half or higher up the pitch.
Marcus Rashford celebrates bringing Manchester United level at the Camp Nou (Picture: David Ramos/Getty Images)
That was evident in United’s biggest wins this season. In a masterful pressing against Tottenham Hotspur on October 19, both scored having just regained the ball. United’s second goals against Liverpool and Arsenal at Old Trafford also came in transition as Rashford was behind the defense at the end of direct passes. Attacking transitions were also central to United’s win against Guardiola’s City last month.
It was quite fitting then that – in United’s biggest European test in some time – offensive changes brought them closer than ever to their first win over Barcelona at the Camp Nou before Raphinha equalized for the home side.
In the first half, Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied United the lead with two crucial saves from Wout Weghorst and Rashford. Both chances arose during the change.
Ahead of the first chance, Luke Shaw presses Raphinha to stop Barcelona’s counter-attack from a United corner.
Then, after Tyrell Malacia collects the loose ball, United begin the substitution. Fernandes reacts quickly to the situation, slipping a ball behind the Barcelona defense in the direction of Weghorst…
… whose shot is parried by ter Stegen.
Six minutes later, United’s other big chance at half-time comes as well, winning the ball and striking as fast as they can. Here Jadon Sancho intercepts Jules Kounde’s pass…
… and finds Rashford, who drives into the penalty area with just one touch of the ball …
…before his curled try is stopped by another save from Ter Stegen.
Marcos Alonso’s header from a corner gave Barcelona the lead and put United behind, but their threat on the transitions was always there. A few minutes after Barcelona went 1-0 up, United fended off a Catalan attack and made a quick substitution to put Xavi’s side out of position.
Ahead of United’s equalizer, Raphael Varane intercepts Jordi Alba’s forward pass and chests the ball to Casemiro…
…who immediately looks for the most direct option before Barcelona can revert to their defensive form. This option is Fred, who reverses his movement once there is a chance of a pass into the room. Meanwhile, Rashford is offside on the near side, but his alertness to the situation and intelligent use of that positioning…
…gets him ready as Fred plays the pass past the Barcelona defence…
… which the United striker attacks before scoring past ter Stegen.
United’s second goal also came from an offensive transition. Before United’s corner, Fred regains the ball by pressuring Frenkie de Jong and the ball falls to Fernandes…
… who finds Rashford behind Alonso. Again, it’s United’s alertness once they reclaim the ball that makes them difficult to defend in these situations.
A blunder in a United build-up handed Barcelona a card to get out of jail, but the away side could have clinched the winner from – once again – another quick attacking change. In this attack, Fred’s pressure on de Jong forces the Dutchman into a cross-field pass, which is intercepted by Sancho.
Once the United winger controls the ball, Fernandes charges forward to offer a passing option, while Rashford drops to position himself on Andreas Christensen’s blind side…
… and offer Sancho a pass option.
Unfortunately for United, Rashford opted for power over placement, with his shot fired off target.
Conceding corners and problems in the build-up phase are issues United should work on, but their improvement off the ball in the other stages of the game helps their transition game.
Moving away from a one-trick pony in attack is the right direction for United, but that trick is still useful.