Illness problems and injury concerns eluded Manchester United and Erik ten Hag ahead of their restart to the Premier League following the World Cup.
Victor Lindelöf was ill, as was Scott McTominay. Harry Maguire, in turn, had only been able to train once since he had returned from the toilet, also due to illness. Diogo Dalot was missing wounded.
Then Erik ten Hag brought in Luke Shaw at centre-back alongside Raphael Varane, who just nine days ago played in the World Cup final.
David de Gea, along with his defence, had to keep clean sheets and both centre-backs scored excellent marks in the local newspaper, the Manchester Evening News.
“He was applauded by Erik ten Hag in the third minute when he won the ball again and intervened more than once in his own third. An elegant comeback nine days after the World Cup final,” writes MEN and awards Varane an eight (on ten ) evaluation .
Luke Shaw scores a seven:
“Deployed as a centre-back where he played previously but for the first time in a back four. He didn’t look out of place.”
Erik ten Hag was also praised in the newspapers after the 3-0 win.
“He made some bold choices when he started Varane and Shaw together, but the duo looked solid and the attacking quartet should have scored more,” the MEN wrote, giving the coach a seven.
Erik ten Hag himself praised Raphael Varane highly after the effort against Forest:
– I had problems in the center of defense and he took responsibility and played really well and it was important for our team, says the coach according to MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst
