Manchester United’s League placement this season isn’t really a representation of their play; in reality, they ought to be much lower in the standings.

Erik ten Hag is currently under more and more pressure to perform well, but there are no obvious improvements—the same issues keep coming up in every game.

The united Erik-ten-Hag man
The development of the younger players, like Alejandro Garnacho, who flourished and established himself as a vital member of the Red Devils with seven goals and three assists in the Premier League, is the sole encouraging aspect of this year.

The 19-year-old winger is already firmly established in the starting lineup thanks to his impressive play, but just think of the heights to which he could rise if he had a new full-back behind him.

Man Utd’s pursuit of a replacement left back
The Dutch manager has had a lot of issues this season with the left-back position because he frequently doesn’t have a single player available for that position.

That’s the situation at the moment, since injuries have kept Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw out of action for the duration of the campaign. Young Harry Amass has been playing with the senior squad, but last Sunday against Liverpool, he was picked as a substitute.

United-Fernandez, Shaw-Man
It comes as little surprise, then, that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is eager to add a new left-back this summer, and the Sunday Mirror via TeamTALK reports that Miguel Gutierrez might be his first target.

Arsenal have already scouted the Spaniard, and Real Madrid has a £6.8 million buy-back clause, so the English team won’t have an easy time landing him.

Premier League of Girona: Miguel Gutierrez
Having stated that, let’s examine Gutierrez’s possible impact on Garnacho specifically.

How Gutierrez was able to transform Garnacho into a monster
This season, Gutierrez has dominated Spain, playing a key role in the incredible Girona team that has captured the hearts of football fans all around Europe.

In his 28 La Liga games, the 22-year-old defender has been nothing short of spectacular, demonstrating his ability to influence games both on defence and in the final third.

Gilberto-Gutierrez-Miguel
Most notably, though, is that he has not been injured during the campaign; the 2021/22 season was his most recent and only career setback.

This implies that if he signed with the Red Devils, he would have the opportunity to forge a fantastic partnership with Garnacho, who is steadily establishing himself as the starting left back, even ahead of Marcus Rashford.

The table below, which highlights Gutierrez’s most recent performance against Rayo Vallecano, demonstrates that the star, labelled “fantastic” by scout Jacek Kulig, is incredibly well-rounded.

Rayo Vallecano vs Gutierrez

Statistics

Gutierrez

Helps

1.

Large opportunities generated

2.

Pass keys

3.

Effective dribbles

3/4

Duels prevailed.

Six

Interceptions

2.

Dribbled over

0

Through Sofascore

First of all, as seen by his two interceptions, six duels won, and the fact that he was never dribbled past, the number three is an incredibly strong defender who like to play aggressively.

Though Gutierrez frequently chooses to dribble directly to elude opponents and draw them out of position, which may provide the Argentine more room to perform his magic, it’s his menace in the final third that might see Garnacho improve.

The Spaniard’s assist, three crucial passes, and two huge chances generated demonstrate his accuracy as a ball crosser. His overlapping runs also make the United left-wing approach much less predictable by providing Garnacho with opportunities to cut inside or lay off the ball.


Furthermore, the former Madrid star presently shares the top spot in La Liga for big chances created with 14—13 more than Shaw and equal with Bruno Fernandes in the Premier League.

In general, Ten Hag’s club has been in need of a dependable left-back for years, and Gutierrez fits the bill in every way. It may also be a game-changer for one of the club’s finest young players’ development.