Brainiacs key to Man U’s success

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This article was published 24/02/2023 (1278 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Earlier this week, ahead of their Europa League return match at home to Barcelona, Manchester United’s team of data specialists, aggregators and technical personnel was pictured analyzing last Thursday’s first leg from the press gallery at Camp Nou.

Sitting in a studious row on the hard wooden benches against the glass, the eight figures, each outfitted in cream-coloured Adidas club zip-ups, have their laptops and headsets at the ready as their subjects prepare to emerge from the tunnel.

Two hours later, as they stored their devices, they might’ve been disappointed by an impressive display that yielded just a 2-2 draw.

But never mind the score. It’s the photo, shared by the Daily Mail, that’s especially interesting, even indicative of the stunning turnaround United are presently enjoying. And it’s one of three images that together effectively depict the sudden change in fortune both on the pitch and off it.

Without rattling off the list of names — though all have certainly made a difference — it’s enough to know that, placed on either side of technical director Darren Fletcher, are positional coaches, video analysts and performance experts, each with access to data the club weren’t even collecting six months ago.

It was only with the appointment of manager Erik ten Hag that United’s metrics staff was updated for the 2020s, and judging by the picture at least a few of its members were likely in nappies during the treble-winning season of 98-99.

In a remarkably short amount of time the Dutchman has almost completely modernized what less than a year ago was a clunky, old-fashioned enterprise whose most recent updates were installed by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Which introduces the second image.

Posted to Twitter by the account Patron_MUFC, it’s a sneaky photograph taken at a Wimslow restaurant, where ten Hag and Ferguson happened to be dining Tuesday night.

Sitting in a semi-circular booth of brown leather, incidentally as Liverpool are being walloped by Real Madrid at Anfield, the two seem to be in deep conversation, and the legendary Ferguson leans slightly over the table as he addresses his latest successor.

When asked about the meeting at the next morning’s press conference, ten Hag hailed the “massive” influence of English football’s most decorated manager and enthusiastically asserted that United remained “(Ferguson’s) club.” More than 26 trophy-filled years will tend to earn such respect, though for the first time since he retired a decade ago Ferguson has perhaps encountered a coach for whom the respect is mutual.

In many ways, the two are quite similar — if for no other reason than they faced the same challenges.

When Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford the stadium was in complete disrepair, certain players were an unwanted influence and the club hadn’t won the title in 19 years. Ten Hag’s welcome was likewise troubling, but in just a few months he renovated the analytics department, jettisoned Cristiano Ronaldo and guided his players into a cup final.

That final, of the Carabao Cup, will go Sunday against Newcastle (10:30 a.m., DAZN) and represents the Red Devils’ first trip to Wembley since 2017.

As silverware goes, it’s the fourth-best of the four available to them, but it’s a trophy, and that United could win it while contending for each of the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League is, considering where they’ve come from, nothing short of remarkable.

Perhaps, in that photo, Ferguson is pointing out that his own League Cup triumph of 2006 kicked off another glorious period in which his teams won five titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup and two more League Cups in seven years.

Which nicely sets up the final image.

It’s no one picture in particular, but rather the now regular goalscoring celebrations of Marcus Rashford, in which he points his right forefinger to his temple. Sometimes, after applying a clinical finish, he’ll slow his pace, close his eyes and raise the finger to his head. Other times, he’ll break his run by sliding on his knees, but still that finger.

It’s a reference to “mentality,” long-time United defender Rio Ferdinand recently posited. And, given Rashford’s recent struggles — he scored just five goals in all competitions last term — he certainly seems to be in a far better headspace.

His 24 goals so far this season represents the best campaign of his career, and it’s still only February. He’s the form player in Europe, the driving force of a set of players who could soon be doing special things together.

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Jadon Sancho, 22 and, like Rashford, coached back to full confidence by ten Hag, is part of that group, as are new signings Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen, Antony and Casemiro. Then there’s Bruno Fernandes, Raphael Varane and the reinvigorated Luke Shaw.

It’s the type of core that, with the right manager in charge, can help turn around a club. A kind that, not long from now, could be lifting a trophy at Wembley.

Now, wouldn’t that make a picture.

jerradpeters@gmail.com

Twitter @JerradPeters