Tuesday 11 October 2016 18:34, UK
Ander Herrera has impressed in Manchester United's midfield and he looks set to start against Liverpool on Monday Night Football. The Spaniard already looks like Jose Mourinho's best partner for Paul Pogba in the middle, writes Nick Wright.
Herrera has had to be patient at United. It is more than two years since he first set foot in Carrington, but the former Athletic Bilbao midfielder has featured sporadically for the most part, struggling to nail down a place in the team and frequently finding himself on the fringes.
Herrera started just 36 out of 76 Premier League games in his first two seasons at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal, and history seemed to be repeating itself when he was relegated to the bench by Mourinho after playing in United's 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on the opening day of the new campaign.
Herrera was sacrificed for world-record signing Pogba, with Marouane Fellaini keeping his place instead. The decision seemed to pay off as United beat Southampton and Hull, but they soon faltered, and Herrera caught Mourinho's eye as a second-half substitute in their galling 2-1 defeat by Pep Guardiola's Manchester City at Old Trafford.
"Ander came on in the second half and he was the one who allowed us to recover the ball fast, to press higher, to bring the team higher, to recover the ball, to build a new wave of attack, to put another long ball into the last line," said Mourinho. "Ander was phenomenal in his attitude."
The 27-year-old was back on the bench for the 3-1 defeat by Watford despite Mourinho's praise, but he returned to the starting XI for the 4-1 thrashing of Leicester, and he remained there for their 1-1 draw with Stoke - a performance Mourinho described as United's best of the season so far, despite the frustrating result.
With Fellaini back on the bench and the ageing Michael Carrick overlooked, it's now Herrera who looks like the best foil for Pogba in an unfamiliar holding role. Indeed, it's no coincidence that his return to the side coincided with Pogba's best performance in a United shirt against Leicester, or that Mourinho's men have created more clear-cut chances in the last two games (eight) than in the previous five combined.
For while it's not always Herrera who plays the final pass, his dynamism from deep injects speed into United's attack. Juan Mata's selection ahead of Wayne Rooney has also contributed in that regard, but Herrera's underlying importance was highlighted by his absence against Zorya Luhansk, as United mustered just two shots on target in a laboured 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
United missed his quick, accurate distribution. Fellaini brings physical and aerial strengths to the table, but the Belgian does not possess Herrera's ability to intelligently recycle possession at speed, nor can he match his urgency off the ball. Premier League tracking data shows Herrera has made 49 sprints per start this season. Fellaini has made just 37.
Herrera's impressive form was recognised with his first call-up to the senior Spain squad last week, and he puts it down to the change of position. "It's going well," he said. "I know I have to keep working to earn Mourinho's confidence even more, but it's true that I feel good in the new position and it's also true that maybe that little change of position was what has allowed me to receive a Spain call-up."
As well as adding speed and incisiveness to United's general play, his defensive output has given Pogba greater licence to attack. "Paul is a very strong, very physical player who shoots with both feet," said Herrera. "He can dribble, he can defend. He has it all. I can then stay back to steal the ball, to keep the position, and from there initiate attacks."
Herrera is excelling in that regard. The midfielder made more interceptions than any of his team-mates in United's games against Leicester and Stoke (11), and his combination of front-foot defending and smart distribution has helped Mourinho's side turn defence into attack with greater fluency.
It's had a knock-on effect on his midfield partner. Pogba scored his first goal and produced a man-of-the-match display in the win over Leicester and the Frenchman has created more scoring chances (seven) and had more shots on target (three) in his last two Premier League appearances than in his previous four alongside Fellaini.
They are encouraging signs for Mourinho, but Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has urged caution over Herrera and Pogba's "good start", and the pairing will be sternly tested in the weeks ahead. "I don't think Mourinho will look at that performance against Leicester and think Pogba and Herrera are his midfield two," said Neville.
"United have got three games in the next six that are against Chelsea, Liverpool and City, and they still have to build up that trust to him, to us, the crowd, that they are good enough to play in these big matches. Can they then go and deliver in the bigger games and against the better opposition? That's when the ultimate test will come."
It starts at Anfield on Monday night. Jurgen Klopp's side rank top for chances created and goals scored this season, and the speed and fluidity of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho will test Herrera like never before. This, though, is the opportunity the Spaniard has been waiting for. How he comes through it could prove decisive.
