While the room around him was ablaze and questions – “how will you cope without him?” “aren’t you short on options?” – were fired in his direction, Erik ten Hag remained a calm, unnerved figure. Not like the blissful, behatted dog, deluded to the impact the licking flames would soon deal to his house, but rather with the cool assuredness of knowing he had an extinguisher close to hand.
When Manchester United’s manager discussed the sudden departure of Cristiano Ronaldo last month, one could be forgiven for thinking he was taking the ‘this is fine’ approach to the problem it had caused. By the time the Portuguese finally got the signature on the divorce papers he had been begging for, he left Ten Hag’s attacking options in the gutter – though not quite as low as his own legacy at Old Trafford.
But Ten Hag didn’t seem to think so as he instead named three forwards who would be able to offset Ronaldo’s departure. “Two things. First, that goals can also come out of our own club,” the Dutchman said of United’s issues in attack.
READ MORE: Pellistri might have just changed United’s transfer plans
“See (Alejandro) Garnacho, see (Anthony) Elanga, see Pellistri, who made a good impression on the World Cup and last week in the game against Everton and in training, so that is first.
“But yes, we are aware we have lost a striker so I think we have to get a striker in but it has to be the right one and the right one needs to bring the quality into the team and not just add to the squad, because that gives you only problems. The criteria is high here at Man United.”
Pellistri’s name being dropped raised eyebrows. Despite signing in 2020, the young winger had yet to make his debut for United at the time of Ten Hag’s declaration. Pellistri had looked bright in pre-season and other friendlies but the rise of Garnacho appeared to have put the writing on the wall. With Amad also impressing on loan at Sunderland, it was hard to see how Pellistri could ever find a route into the team. Just getting on the bench was a struggle.
As Pellistri’s lack of involvement went on following club football’s resumption, Ten Hag’s encouraging words looked more like he was placing the 21-year-old in the shop window. His agent, Edgardo Lasalvia, has certainly been vocal about a possible departure. He told ESPN Uruguay in November: “I think with a good World Cup, as we think he is going to have, his departure [from United] is imminent.”
Another failed investment appeared to be the outcome but in just one six-minute cameo it might well have all changed. Pellistri’s long wait for a debut finally ended on Tuesday as he was brought on for the closing stages of the Carabao Cup quarter-final tie with Charlton. United were a goal ahead but had been unable to extend their lead until the Uruguayan took an excellent Casemiro pass in his stride, drove inside and used Scott McTominay’s run to create space before slipping through Marcus Rashford to continue his red-hot scoring form.
Though he didn’t touch the ball for Rashford’s second goal moments later, it was his smart run that dragged a defender away leaving the striker in acres of space once more to score yet another goal.
It was only a few minutes on the field but the fact Pellistri utilised his minutes to the fullest extent bodes well for his future in Manchester. He is a regular starter for his country and clearly has quality, he just needed a chance to show it. The question will be: can he continue to do so?
He certainly sounds ready to try. He told MUTV after the match: “I am very happy, and I want to help my team-mates to achieve all the trophies that we have in mind and to win every game we have because this is an incredible club and very big. All players want to play and of course I want more. I will fight and train hard to continue this way.”
United obviously still need a striker in January but that was probably the case before Ronaldo’s sudden exit given his steep decline. Yet, with Pellistri, United may have just unexpectedly enhanced their attacking arsenal further. There’s a long way to go before he is proven correct but it looks like another bold Ten Hag call may be paying off.
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
