Portal Eurofootball.com presents five insights from this week's UEFA Champions League matches.
1) Memphis Depay should play on the left. Louis van Gaal does not avoid experiments, which sometimes seem even bizarre from the outside. This season is no exception. The "Manchester United" coach presented two surprises from the first days - Daley Blind in center back positions, and Memphis Depay in the so-called number ten position.
If the first experiment worked surprisingly well, the second, it seems, was a failure. In the match against "Club Brugge" M. Depay was returned to his usual place on the left attacking edge and scored two goals.
It is worth noting that the goals were primarily a result of positional changes. M. Depay, in his typical style, cut in from the left to the center and struck at goal. There should be no doubt to anyone now that the position of the Dutchman is his strongest, and the role of the number ten should be entrusted to someone else.
2) Wayne Rooney's problem. W. Rooney has been a problematic player for "Manchester United" for several seasons. The problem is that his authority in the team is huge, but his performances on the field no longer justify that authority.
W. Rooney will never be an effective striker. He does not have the necessary skillset and physical strength to hold and support the ball until his teammates join the attack. He no longer has the speed he used to have to outpace defenders. He is not very effective in pressuring opponent defenders. He cannot play in the "false ninth position" because he lacks adequate vision and creative abilities.
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