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3 weeks ago
39 Despite being played slightly out of position under the orders of his new boss Ruben Amorim, Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui has been excelling in his new role.
The 27-year-old cemented himself as one of the finest up-and-coming right-backs during his time at Ajax under the guidance of Erik ten Hag.
Following an underwhelming two-year spell at Bayern Munich, the Morocco international was briefly reunited with the old mentor at Man United, who naturally played him at right-back.
With Ten Hag receiving his marching orders, Ruud van Nistelrooy took over as caretaker coach, fielding Mazraoui at left-back.
Moreover, Amorim’s arrival spelled yet another twist for the former Ajax man. Despite being a full-back by trade, he’s currently playing as a right central defender, a position he’s less familiar with.
At first, the Portuguese manager explained the call by citing the lack of centre-backs at his disposal, especially with Leny Yoro out injured.
However, the Morrocan has been delivering highly impressive performances in his newly-adopted role, as confirmed by the numbers.
Ruben Amorim’s decision to play Noussair Mazraoui at the back paid off
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 01: Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford on September 01, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)According to Statman Dave, Mazraoui has won more ground duels (71) than any other defender in the Premier League this season.
Moreover, the Man United summer signing had the highest ground duel success rate (66%) of any player to have contested 100+ or more.
These are simply astonishing figures for a player who was initially deemed as ill-suited for a role in the back-three.
While the Red Devils’ squad will certainly undergo massive changes in the upcoming transfer sessions, Amorim might be hellbent on keeping the former Bayern Munich in this new role, as this transition has thus far yielded major success.
Moreover, Amad Diallo has made the right wingback slot his own with brilliant displays down the flank, so a role in the backline could be Mazraoui’s best bet at gaining regular playing time.
