Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford help MU revive

Erik ten Hag finds the formula for attack

With each passing match, people have to update the latest statistics on MU's striker trio Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, as if to prove once again an old statement: in the end, coach Erik ten Hag has found the perfect attacking formula to bring MU back to the top 4 of the Premier League.

Getting into the top 4 was an impossible task for a MU that had lost 3 of the first 5 rounds, ranking 13th in the Premier League. By mid-season, MU lost as many matches as they won. 2 rounds ago, their goal difference was still negative. Only 2 times in 21 rounds, MU won consecutively in the Premier League (once 2 matches, once 3 matches). How can a team like that look at the top 4, when it is almost certain that 3 of the first 4 positions in the final rankings will belong to Man.City, Liverpool and Arsenal - teams that are completely superior, as if they are on a different level compared to the rest of the league. Depending on the time, Tottenham and Aston Villa take turns playing the role of the best "dark horse" this season. There is also the ambitious Newcastle and Chelsea. It is too difficult for MU to compete for the only remaining spot in the top 4.

MU thrives with excellent attacking players

Chance of top 4

Now, the story is different. Of course, it is still a bit difficult, with only 1/3 of the season left for Mr. Ten Hag and his team to promote the signs of improvement they are showing. But MU can rise higher than the current number 6 position. They are only 5 points behind the number 4 team Aston Villa and 3 points behind Tottenham. Trying to stabilize the progress is one thing. Hoping that the main opponent will stumble is another. While MU is winning 4 consecutive matches, neither Tottenham nor Aston Villa have won consecutively in the last 8 rounds. And who knows (depending on the specific developments in the rest of the season), the Premier League will enter the top 2 in the rankings of achievements in European cups, to be granted a 5th place in the Champions League next season by UEFA!

As mentioned, the key to MU's recent rise is the striker trio Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford. This season, they have only started together 7 times in the Premier League, including the last 5 rounds, which is also MU's best 5-match streak since the beginning of the season. The last time the 3 strikers mentioned above were not in the starting lineup, MU lost 1-2 to mediocre opponent Nottingham Forest. General statistics: MU lost 9 matches, only scoring an average of 1 goal/match in 18 appearances without the 3 names mentioned above. When they were present in their "full set", MU scored an average of 2.4 goals/match and did not lose any match.

It wasn't until Boxing Day that Hojlund scored his first Premier League goal. Garnacho and Rashford both had only one open-play goal in the previous 18 games (Rashford also scored one penalty). But since the aforementioned 26.12.2023 milestone, Hojlund has never started without scoring. He has set a record as the youngest player to score in 6 consecutive Premier League matches. In those 6 games, Garnacho added 4 goals, Rashford 3.

The assertion of the MU striker trio is indisputable. But the point here is that there has been no "discovery" in the personal aspect. Rashford has been known for a long time, and this is actually the season that he started badly. Garnacho has been showing up and down. Hojlund has been "silent" for half the season, causing great disappointment after his £64 million transfer to Old Trafford. On the one hand, MU's new attacking formula has probably been formed on the training ground, rather than simply arranging personnel. On the other hand, they are also "in luck". Garnacho's bullet-like shot hit Hojlund's chest and went into the net, becoming the decisive goal that helped MU beat Luton in the round last weekend! With nothing left to choose from in the striker line, coach Ten Hag will have free time to focus on solving other important problems to save MU in the decisive stage of the season.

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