Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera Stand out as Manchester United Beat Hull City
There were a number of standout performers in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Hull City on Saturday, but Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera set the tone for what was a comfortable victory.
Carrick, now United’s most senior player at 33 years old, passed the ball around effortlessly and demonstrated why he remains so important to Louis van Gaal in spite of the Dutchman making six summer signings.
Herrera, meanwhile, was introduced as a first-half substitute for the injured Angel Di Maria and took charge of the midfield. The Spaniard was named Man of the Match in his first appearance since the middle of October.
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Together, Carrick and Herrera dominated Hull and attempted just 44 fewer passes than the away side did as a team.
Carrick noticeably added a sense of control to the midfield with his passing against Hull, which seemed to rub off on the players around him.
For the second time in four appearances since returning from injury, he registered over 100 passes and 100 touches of the ball. To put that into context, Daley Blind and Jonny Evans are the only other United players to achieve that feat this season.
Herrera, an equally competent and assured passer of the ball, never stopped moving and linked much of the play in the final third.
Carrick and Herrera are clearly very different players, but the one similarity they have is the way they use the ball so effectively. It’s for that reason they stood out against an admittedly unimpressive Hull team.
If there was one player whose performances visibly dipped under David Moyes last season, it was Carrick. His display against Hull was therefore reminiscent of the way he played in United’s title-winning side of 2012/13.
That trophy will long be remembered for the goals Robin van Persie scored to secure Sir Alex Ferguson’s final piece of silverware, yet Carrick was equally outstanding.
This season, he was sorely missed by United in August, September and October when he was sidelined with an ankle injury, but Blind’s calming presence in defensive midfield meant his absence was felt less than it perhaps could have been.
The Dutchman is now out injured with a knee problem, which is why Carrick’s return to fitness is a timely boost for Van Gaal.
Herrera has also struggled with injuries this season, breaking his rib in September after suffering a knock to his ankle in August.
His performances under Van Gaal have largely been excellent, but he was an unused substitute against Chelsea, Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Arsenal.
The way he played against Hull suggested that his absence in United’s last four games was fitness-related rather than form-related. With Carrick anchoring the midfield, Herrera enjoyed the freedom he was afforded in being able to play further up the pitch.
The 25-year-old did everything he possibly could to ensure that he starts on Tuesday against Stoke City.
In the win over Hull, Carrick and Herrera typified what Van Gaal is trying to achieve at United. They kept the ball moving, stopped the opposition from having possession and created chances for the players around them.
Carrick’s stunning long-range pass to Van Persie was one of the moments of the match, even if the Dutchman’s header was well saved from an offside position. But he eventually got his goal when Herrera, who won the ball back after his initial pass was blocked, fed a simple pass for Van Persie to thump home.
Those two passages of play illustrated Carrick and Herrera’s contrasting styles, but both men were central to United’s win over Hull.
All statistics via WhoScored.com
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