4 Tweets Apr 25, 2023
Have only caught up with the last 10 minutes of the game but the fact that United are building in a 3-1-6/3-2-5 with Malacia inverting alongside Fred in the #6 is strange, particularly considering Leeds press United the best when they build with a back 3 as opposed to a back 2.
A 3-2-5 makes a lot of sense vs a 4-4-2 if that 4-4-2 is passive off the ball, but if it's not then it matches up very poorly.
The wide forwards invert alongside the #9 to press the back 3, the #10 drops off onto one of the pivots alongside the #8, and the back 4 + #6 match up.
Leeds have had quite a lot of control in this game relative to what they likely would have if United played the way they did last week outside of the first 10 mins with Dalot playing as a fullback as opposed to inverting into the back 3.
I'm surprised at this ten Hag approach...
United had a clear 3v2 in the build-up against Leeds' 4-4-1-1 high press once Dalot stayed high as opposed to tucking in alongside the centre backs to make a back 3.
THEN inverting the fullbacks when play is progressed past that initial phase makes more sense for compactness.

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