5 Things Adnan Januzaj Must Do to Improve in 2014/15
Arriving on the scene at the beginning of the 2013/14 season, Adnan Januzaj made an immediate impact, scoring important goals and showcasing his supreme technical skills for Manchester United.
More than a year later, Januzaj is still regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects the Premier League has to offer. However, at the age of 19, there is still a lot of room to improve.
Above everything, it must not be forgotten that Januzaj is extremely young, and that his time hasn't come yet. In the future, however, the Belgian-born attacker has every chance of becoming one of the world's greats.
Here, we take a look at five things Januzaj can do to improve in the 2014/15 season.
Play Regularly
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Januzaj will need more playing time to become a better player.
This is, of course, a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it's difficult for manager Louis van Gaal to put his faith in a 19-year-old. On the other hand, he will want his pupil to improve.
The case of Januzaj is extra complicated because he's simply too good to be loaned out to a smaller club.
In that regard, it's a shame Manchester United are not doing too well at the moment. It's always easier to give young players game time when matches are being won.
Once results start improving at United, expect Van Gaal to slowly but surely give Januzaj a bit more playing time than he is getting at the moment.
Settle on a Position (for Now)
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Januzaj is a relatively versatile player. In most cases, that's a good thing.
For young players, who need regular playing time to become better, it can also be a burden.
The Belgian can play as a winger or as a more central, attacking midfielder. At the moment, Manchester United seem to be playing without true wingmen, so a central position would make sense.
The position of No. 10, however, seems to be Juan Mata's and Wayne Rooney's territory.
Should Van Gaal perhaps try to use Januzaj behind the No. 10 in a position similar to Angel Di Maria's?
Hit the Gym
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Januzaj is a technical, dexterous and nimble player. However, like many young players with similar skills, he's also a bit of a lightweight.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who was much scrawnier during his early years at Manchester United, developed into the world-class player he is today partly because he made sure his physique matched the requirements of modern-day football.
The same thing could be said about Gareth Bale, who apparently took Ronaldo's example at Real Madrid.
To reach the levels of Ronaldo and Bale, then, Januzaj must make sure to develop his muscles as well as his footballing skills.
Listen to the Boss
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Although Manchester United are struggling and he's not getting much playing time at the moment, Januzaj can count himself very lucky Louis van Gaal is his manager.
At his previous clubs, like Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the Dutch boss has always given youngsters opportunities to develop and flourish.
At Ajax, Van Gaal even won the Champions League with a team consisting largely of recent youth-academy graduates.
With Van Gaal as his boss, Januzaj will get his chances.
Remain Disciplined
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When brought on as a sub, Januzaj will understandably want to make an impact. Ideally, he would like to score goals—winning goals, if possible.
How else can he impress the boss and earn himself a place in the starting XI?
With that being said, the Belgian must make sure his ambition doesn't get the best of him. Above all, he must not run around like a headless chicken, desperately searching for ways to change the game.
Composure is needed to become a mature player, especially in a team managed by Van Gaal, who likes his players to be tactically disciplined.
To improve this season, Januzaj must remain humble and perform his tasks when he gets the chance. Only in the future must he concern himself with dominating the scoresheet.
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