How Erik ten Hag’s Moment of Brilliance With Wout Weghorst Helped Manchester United to Win vs Leeds United

• Leeds United managed to subdue Manchester United for large periods of their game on February 12
• United had also struggled four days earlier to break down a Leeds side in transition after Jesse Marsch's dismissal
• However, Erik ten Hag provided one moment of genius by changing Wout Weghorst's position

Erik ten Hag has quickly established himself as one of the top managers in the English Premier League this season.

The Dutch manager has only been around for seven months and there is already talk that the Red Devils might be title challengers after a recent run of good form.

He might not be able to lace the boots of Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp yet, but he has so far demonstrated tactical nous that has dug his side out of tricky situations.

Hie main formation of 4-2-3-1 has been built to snuff out threats from counters, while using the same tacking to destroy teams.

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Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes have been integral in breaking the defensive lines while Marcus Rashford's pace has been devastating.

Frustrations against Leeds United

Against Leeds United, United struggled to break through the Lilywhites' wall at Elland Road. The same opposition had frustrated them days earlier at Old Trafford and were laying the foundation to repeat another upset.

Luke Ayling's had all of a sudden turned into a prime Roberto Carlos in his full-back position, with both Rashford and Jadon Sancho struggling to get the better of him.

The American midfield partnership of Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams ran strings around a Casemiro-less midfield, leaving Fernandes to rely on Leeds' mistakes.

United's chances in the first half were mainly due to Leeds' mistakes, with Ilan Meslier coming to his side's rescue. The hosts created better chances on the other end but failed to maximise their opportunities.

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Ten Hag's masterstroke

Enter Erik ten Hag. The former Ajax manager decided to shuffle his pack by introducing the pacy Alejandro Garnacho in the 61st minute.

One would have thought that it would have been the off-colour Weghorst to make way but instead, the Burnley loanee was deployed in a deeper role.

He occupied the number 10 position with Rashford taking the centre-forward role. Garnacho was allowed to operate from his preferred left wing with Fernandes drifting in from the right. This piece of tactical ingenuity was a masterstroke.

In the 79th minute, Weghorst dropped deep and took McKennie with him. Adams was left man-marking Fernandes as Ayling marked Garnacho. This allowed Luke Shaw to advance forward with no one spotting his run.

Marcel Sabitzer floated a wonderful ball to the full-back, who in turn delivered a tantalizing cross met by an unmarked Rashford to make it.

1-0 United.

Garnacho's goal

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Five minutes later, Weghorst double-teamed McKennie with Fred and robbed him of the ball. He then played a one-time cross into Garnacho's path who used his pace to see off Robin Koch and slot the ball past Meslier.

2-0 United.

Weghorst's deployment as a number 10 revoked memories of how Maroune Fellaini was used by Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. The Belgian always posed an aerial threat and his playing number 10 posed challenges for the opposition.

Ten Hag might have wanted Weghorst to excel as a number 9 but at the moment, his subtle activities of dragging players with him and holding play for his teammates will work just as fine.

Garnacho hits Ronaldo's celebrations

Sports Brief had earlier reported on Manchester United youngster, Garnacho once again proving his love and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo during his side's 2-0 win over Leeds United at Elland Road.

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Despite being an Argentine, the Red Devils youngster has in the past declared that he always looked up to the Portuguese star while growing up.

The teenage sensation had his dream of playing alongside the veteran forward fulfilled in the first half of the season at Old Trafford.