Erik ten Hag is making same mistake with Sofyan Amrabat as he did with Christian Eriksen at Manchester United

The new midfielder for Man United has started the first four games as left-back for his new team, and Ten Hag’s justification seems familiar.

Erik ten Hag has come under increasing pressure over the past week for his choice to start Sofyan Amrabat at left-back even though it was an error he had previously committed.

Amrabat joined United on deadline day, coming from Fiorentina on a season-long loan that may be converted to a permanent deal for €20 million plus add-ons. The biggest clubs in Europe noticed the Moroccan international’s versatility in defensive midfield, though.

All four of his appearances, three of which came from the start, have come at left-back, in part because of a cluster of injury problems. Sergio Reguilon, a last-minute loan to fill in for Luke Shaw and Tyrell, who were already injured, has been extremely unlucky for United in that regard.

In mentioning Amrabat’s past experience at left-back, Ten Hag is referring to a brief period in which he covered the area at FC Utrecht. But that spell ended in 2017 and was in the Eredivisie, a league which lacks the intensity of Premier League or Champions League football.

In the opening weeks of last season, Ten Hag shoe-horned another summer signing into an unfamiliar role, this time deploying Christian Eriksen as a false nine for the opening two weeks of the season. The Danish international also struggled to affect the game and was easily marshalled by top-flight defences.

“Because we didn’t have the typical number nine, I knew [Eriksen] played a long time as a striker a long time ago in Ajax, dropping in,” the Reds boss insisted after last season’s opening weekend defeat at home to Brighton. “I wanted to keep Jadon and Marcus on the wings, coming inside they were really good in pre-season there.

“When I think, finally, Christian Eriksen is the best in the midfield and actually that was also the idea that he drops and gets in between the lines and to make the game.”

Amrabat and Eriksen have suffered similar fates in their respective United careers, having been forced to undertake a long-forgotten role and struggling as a result. Ten Hag has seemingly failed to anticipate the difference in quality and intensity between the Eredivisie and Premier League, making life hard for his new signings.