Schweinsteiger already looks too slow for Premier League, but Van Gaal's tactics are also off pace
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Updated 05/10/2015 at 17:57 GMT
Bastian Schweinsteiger was badly exposed in Arsenal's 3-0 flogging of Manchester United on Sunday, but Louis van Gaal's tactics were just as much a source of concern, writes Desmond Kane.
Manchester United's Bastian Schweinsteiger and Daley Blind look dejected at the end of the match.
Image credit: Eurosport
Bastian Schweinsteiger was hardly the Kaiser's chief over the long hot summer. The former Bayern Munich and Germany captain Franz Beckenbauer felt the demands of the Premier League were too much for his fellow World Cup winner and Bayern icon Schweini. Even at the age of 31, 'Der Kaiser' suggested England's elite level was too much, too late for such a battle-fatigued figure.
I would advise him not to go to England. He can stay here as well. This challenge, at his age, it’s not what he needs," said Beckenbauer in De Bild. "Adapting to a different European league is difficult at his age. He has played with great force, and put a lot of pressure on his body for many years. That saps energy. He could end his career in the USA instead.
Time is already proven to be a great revealer. Despite protestations from the player that he could cut it at Manchester United, the proof is in the eating. United's midfield were largely devoured by an Arsenal triumvirate of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott operating with greater hunger, pace, mobility, technique and no little purpose.
While £27million recruit Morgan Schneiderlin, 25, bizarrely watched from the substitutes bench, Schweinsteiger, 31, and Carrick, 34, were deployed in the sort of farcical experiment last seen at the Emirates in midweek when Arsene Wenger rested goalkeeper Petr Cech for David Ospina before Arsenal were mugged 3-2 by Olympiacos in the Champions League. Could you imagine the outrage David Moyes would have attracted for such a strategy? After such a Greek tragedy, this type of Moysian gesture from Louis the gambler was just what Arsene needed.
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Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United), Mesut Özil (Arsenal)
Image credit: AFP
Schneiderlin is a player Arsenal fans wanted in their side, but at least they didn't need to examine what they could have won as Wenger's lot tore through the centre of United probably rejoicing in their good fortune with their opponents marginally less static than the Thierry Henry statue.
Such occasions are not really the moment for taking risks, but Van Gaal likes to roll the dice. This was tantamount to putting your wedge on black when all you could see was red. Like a heavy boozer visiting Oktoberfest, there are certain places, certain players should not roam.
Attempting to keep track of Sanchez and Ozil while asking Schweinsteiger and Carrick to get forward was akin to sending United out in lead boots. Thirtysomething men used to protecting the back four were suddenly protecting their front two. This was an odd reworking of the holding role.
At times, Schweinsteiger, hurried and sweating profusely, looked like he was playing alongside Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial up front such was the pressing remit he appeared to be lumbered with.
Which is all well and good, but poor Schweini would have been quicker getting himself an Uber back as United failed to douse the flames of Arsenal's attacking fires at the other end of the pitch.
The mantra of keeping it simple in football is not really the LVG mindset when you want a couple of defensive midfielders to press. When one goes forth, you don't both go. Or else you will end up self-harming, and self-destructing within the first 20 minutes at outposts like the Emirates.
Schweinsteiger seemed to run in stages as Ozil ran off him for Alexis's opening goal on six minutes. Schweinsteiger and Carrick were then left appearing as useful as scarecrows when Ozil added the second a minute later. A third goal on 19 minutes by Sanchez only illustrated the waywardness of LVG's tactics as he was allowed to run unchecked before finishing.
Schweinsteiger appeared to show a quicker turn of pace when he boarded a plane bound for Manchester during the close season to sign on for United with his girlfriend Ana Ivanovic. Back in Munich, they apparently could not believe their luck in receiving several million Euros from United for Schweini. At £6.5million, you suddenly wonder who got the better end of the deal? Bayern don't sell the family silver cheaply.
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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal (2nd R)
Image credit: Reuters
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola's problem was trying to accommodate a player who was great for Munich over 13 gilded years of yesteryear, but ground down by injury. He started 15 times for Bayern in the Bundesliga last season with Pep claiming he had not been fully fit for the past three years, but his recruitment is another sign of LVG's willingness to take a punt on happiness.
Defeat to Arsenal far from sounded the death knell on United's aspirations in the Premier League with leaders Manchester City a paltry two points clear at the summit. There is yet time for Schweinsteiger to come good for his new club, but he needs the right environment to make the best use of his wares. Being isolated to deal with nimble, pesky little figures with pace to burn is not going to work in the glare of over-exposure.
We’re not on schedule to be champions because we need speed and creativity at the front," said Van Gaal at the outset of August. "Whether we can win the title (in the next two seasons) is dependable if we can buy players with speed and creativity.
The figures don't yet make sense for LVG. Nor will they add up in the longer term with such a gung-ho approach. United simply can't challenge for the Premier League title with Carrick and Schweinsteiger trying to double-team time.
Desmond Kane
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