Manchester United have found the perfect alternative to Fred and Scott McTominay duo
manchestereveningnews.co.ukIt's startling how much one player's absence can make such a difference. Manchester United managed to escape from Madrid on Wednesday with their Champions League last 16 tie still level but they were extremely fortunate.
While plenty of players vastly underperformed on the night, and the risk to play Victor Lindelof at right-back backfired, it was the gaping chasm in midfield that made United so vulnerable to Atletico Madrid.
Scott McTominay had been taken ill before the game and, as a result, United were without their midfield general. Instead, United lined up with Fred in a holding role with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes on either side of him.
They both had poor games and Fred — who plays better in a more advanced position in any case — was over-stretched as he had to deal with Atletico's dominating midfield troika, as well as attackers Joao Felix and Angel Correa who continued to drop deep into his zone.
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