Of course, in an ideal world, Erik ten Hag would not have to play any of Manchester United’s players out of position.
But the harsh reality of a seemingly never-ending and unrelenting injury crisis is that those still available on a matchday will often find themselves under pressure to display their flexibility, forced to fill in in rather unfamiliar roles.
Take the left-back spot, for instance. With Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw missing most of 2023/24, Sofyan Amrabat, Victor Lindelof and Diogo Dalot had found themselves wide on the flank at times.
And when Shaw was ruled out again, picking up yet another injury against Luton Town in February, Aaron Wan-Bissaka became the fourth different Manchester United player to be tasked will stepping into his shoes.
Manchester United travel to Chelsea tonight
Wan-Bissaka has started at left-back in each of United’s last two games, the 4-3 FA Cup triumph over Liverpool and Saturday’s torturous 1-1 draw at Brentford.
Ten Hag, ahead of Thursday’s trip to Chelsea, was asked why Wan-Bissaka is taking Shaw’s place these days, with the more naturally-versatile Dalot staying in his favoured right-back spot. And the decision, the Dutchman says, was largely made with Dalot’s connections to United’s current right-wingers in mind.
“I can’t go too deep in that fact,” Ten Hag tells the Man United website. “But they have both, of course, their skills, their contribution to the team.
“Sometimes, we have to adjust this but, lately, it has worked out very good. And we want to keep that consistency with Diogo and (Alejandro) Garnacho, over the right side, because they have their connection.
“Also, Diogo, I know, has a very good connection with Antony. So, most of the times, we want to keep such routines and that is why I chose lately for this partnership.
“To keep Diogo more on the right side and then, lately, Azza (Wan-Bissaka) came in and did a very good job over on the left side.”
Aaron Wan-Bissaka couild start at left-back again
Wan-Bissaka was exceptional up against Mo Salah in that quarter-final clash before the March international break, enhancing his reputation as one of – if not the – finest one-v-one defender in world football.
Wan-Bissaka’s renowned defensive prowess could come in very handy again at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer at his best when drifting in from the right wing.