Mkhitaryan can be the new Red leader
AFTER a seventh maddening draw at home, United have travelled to Russia with a growing recognition that the Europa League could be their best bet of securing Champions League football next season.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is available for the Europa League first leg with Rostov tonight, but won’t be against Chelsea in the FA Cup on Monday because of his three-game ban.
If United are seeking positive spin they can use Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Jose Mourinho chose not to risk him against Bournemouth and has taken the Armenian to Rostov, rather than preserving him for the FA Cup quarterfinal at Stamford Bridge.
That explicit acknowledgement of Mkhitaryan’s importance comes after Mourinho effectively prioritised the Europa League.
Mourinho appeared to put character ahead of talent earlier in the season and it is an introvert who has emerged as the pivot of a United side previously dominated by extroverts.
It is Mkhitaryan - not Paul Pogba who is about to inherit the baton from Ibrahimovic.
In United’s worst draws against Stoke, Burnley, Hull and Bournemouth Mkhitaryan started just one of them, albeit on the right flank against Marco Silva’s side. At the weekend, United were flat through the middle and devoid of the incisive thrust Mkhitaryan brings when he is positioned in the playmaking role.
Mkhitaryan was bashful when asked about his preferred role during the pre-season tour in China but covets the No.10 position he inherited at Leicester a month ago. It was only relinquished when Mourinho switched to a pragmatic 4-3-3 at St Etienne last month. Typically, he still scored by intuitively moving into a central area.
Mourinho might shift Mkhitaryan back to the flank against Chelsea on Monday. His favoured formation, compromised by dubious selections, failed at Stamford Bridge in October and Mourinho might have even considered matching Antonio Conte’s clinical 3-4-3 system.
Whatever the shape, Mkhitaryan can seize ownership of the United side without Ibrahimovic. The style will have to differ with a younger and more flexible figurehead which could possibly suit Mkhitaryan more than having an old-fashioned bruiser in the box like Ibrahimovic.
Mkhitaryan is prompt on the counter-attacking. Borussia Dortmund had Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Marco Reus inviting Mkhitaryan to feed them and United could have Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to dovetail with Mkhitaryan at Chelsea. Juan Mata is an acceptable alternative.
While somewhat churlish to criticise Ibrahimovic’s influence, he can compromise United’s rhythm and their idealistic supporters crave more speed. The players should be the actors to Mourinho’s director, but at times Ibrahimovic might as well wield the megaphone.
“He looks quicker with the ball,” Rashford recently said of Mkhitaryan. “When he’s dribbling with the ball it’s like he finds another gear, maybe it’s mentally but he looks quicker with the ball than without it.”
United supporters have a long love affair with dribblers and no one in the current squad weaves past opponents as effortlessly.
The United spine which Mourinho strengthened in the summer was deliberately weakened versus Bournemouth. Next week it could be re-energised with Ander Herrera’s bustling behind Mkhitaryan and the ebullient Rashford ahead of him. Herrera is capable of setting the tone and Mkhitaryan can increase it.