Mazraoui embraces Amorim at Ipswich
Mazraoui embraces Amorim at Ipswich
Denis Irwin sat behind Sir Alex Ferguson on Thursday night. The sight of Irwin, a world-class right-footed left back in his pomp and specialist at free kicks and penalties, will have made Manchester United supporters of a certain vintage wistful.
Noussair Mazraaoui, at 27, is already the same age Irwin was when United celebrated their breakthrough championship in 1993. Mazraoui almost certainly will never reach the heights Irwin did but flattering parallels are developing between the two full backs.
Mazraoui has started at right back, left back, the No.10 and now right centre back. He has not disgraced himself in any of the roles and has been the sole consistent performer in the early days of Ruben Amorim's reign.
It is telling that Mazraoui's two assists have come under two different managers and not the one who signed him. That fleet of foot that enabled Mazraoui to navigate his way into Bodo/Glimt territory was foretold by Erik ten Hag.
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On the eve of Mazraoui's debut, Ten Hag said: "It’s quite difficult to put him under pressure. Especially in English football, that can be very beneficial. There is always pressure on the ball. This is a player: one of his key attributes is it is very difficult to put him under pressure because he often finds solutions."
Since a solid performance against Fulham, Mazraoui has maintained a respectably high performance level, as Irwin used to. Ruud van Nistelrooy and now Ruben Amorim have coaxed the attacking instincts out of him.
Mazraoui played his way out of trouble in his own third at Portman Road on Sunday and, when confronted by two Norwegians on Thursday night, glided past them like one of the nation's cross country skiers. After Rasmus Hojlund adroitly finished with a touch-and-volley, Antony pointed appreciatively at Mazraoui.
His tactical acumen is worthy of an Ajax-schooled talent. Mazraoui shifted to right back when United were out of possession in the second half and he switched seamlessly back to centre half with the ball. His cross for Hojlund's equaliser came via anticipating and intercepting a pass. Watching it back, Mazraoui is hiding behind Antony when Patrick Berg plays the ball.
By modern United recruitment standards, Mazraoui is an outlier. A snip at £12.8million rising to £17.1m, he is a rare frugal buy. Tyrell Malacia, another Dutch-born full back and Ten Hag's first signing, cost marginally more but his purple patch extended to only three games. Mazraoui is well past the three-month mark.
Moving for a right back Bayern Munich wanted rid of and whom West Ham United were on the brink of signing was not a compelling sell. Mazraoui started at Old Trafford last season and was hooked by Thomas Tuchel at half-time and a former high-ranking official was particularly sceptical of moving for Morocco internationals after their captivating run to the World Cup semi-finals two years ago.
Mazraoui was in fine form again against Bodo/Glimt
But so far, so good. Wan-Bissaka arrowed in a rare goal in a rare West Ham win at Newcastle on Monday evening yet any United fan pining for him is either unfamiliar with the club's standards or brainwashed.
Crucially for a United defender, Mazraoui has been available for all 20 matches this season. That is relatively remarkable when Mazraoui underwent what United described as "a minor precautionary corrective procedure" after experiencing heart palpitations last month.
Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Victor Lindelof were all absent again against Bodo. United finished the game without a specialist centre back on the pitch as Amorim manages players' workloads.
United have needed Mazraoui, with their crocked left backs only recalled to the matchday squad at the weekend. Malacia's first start in 550 days against Bodo/Glimt was too soon.
Malacia had a night to forget
Mazraoui started 24 games last season and that has given him the edge over the fatigued Diogo Dalot. Dalot has only missed eight United games through injury since he returned from a season-long loan with AC Milan in the summer of 2021 and he has become a victim of his own fitness success. He lined up in 48 of United's 52 games in 2023-24 and Bodo/Glimt was the first time he was not in the starting XI this term.
Dalot played in a 3-4-3 system for Porto B as a teenager when United scouted him - in the back three and on the right wing. Mazraoui is seemingly just as capable and is likely to continue on the right of the defensive trident against Everton on Sunday.
Like the unfussy Irwin, Mazraoui is becoming something of an unsung hero. He is seldom mentioned in press conferences and the most frenzied fanfare around him was when he left a restaurant in Spinningfields with De Ligt on their first night in Manchester. Professional autograph hunters had got wind of his whereabouts.
Inevitably, most of the pictures were of De Ligt as Mazraoui faded into the background. Irwin, such a low-key personality he extraordinarily did not protest his scandalous sending off at Anfield in 1999, would approve.
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