According to the Daily Star Angel Di Maria is not happy at Manchester United and wants to leave the club he joined in the summer. His house had been burgled recently and reportedly he and his family are staying at a hotel with his wife too afraid to return to their house But surely this might not be the primary reason for the Argentine star to leave Manchester United.
Van Gaal’s tactics have been downright confusing this season,from the widely used 3-5-2 to the strange formation United played against Cambridge,United fans have had a frustrating season. After years of Ferguson’s teams playing 4-4-2 in the league and very successfully,suddenly for the past two years,the Old Trafford faithful have been treated to a very boring style of play. Angel Di Maria one the most exciting players to watch has been reduced to a tactical misfit at United. Played upfront or as a wide winger,he has not been played in his favoured position. His best season was last year with Real Madrid when he played as part of the middle 3 in a 4-3-3. Di Maria needs to run at players from deep,this is when he is at his best. Playing upfront doesn’t allow him to make use of his best abilities.
Di Maria in his last season at Real Madrid(Possibly his best season till date) played in the Left Central Midfield position in Real Madrid’s 4-3-3 formation, Di Maria was again essential in negating the main tactical flaws of Real Madrid. In defense, he was able to provide the energy and physicality to provide the defensive cover for Modric and Xabi Alonso so Real Madrid was not overrun in central midfield. When Ronaldo chose not to track back and mark the opposition’s Right Fullback, Di Maria left his midfield position and marked the attacking Fullback, thus negating Real Madrid’s two main defensive weaknesses. In attack, from a central position, he made wide diagonal runs from central midfield down the left touchline. These attacking runs were valuable for two reasons. First, the extra width from Di Maria’s runs forced opposition defenses to expand creating more space for Ronaldo and Real Madrid to attack centrally. Secondly, Real Madrid now had a natural crosser down the left flank. With Ronaldo playing centrally partnering Real Madrid’s Center Forward, Karim Benzema, they had a two versus two advantage against their oppositions’ Centerbacks because the defending team had no defensive cover. During the 2013-2014 season Di Maria played in 52 matches, started 43 matches, scored 11 goals and had 22 assists. Di Maria capped his season off by having one of his best match performances for Real Madrid. In the Champions League Final he was by far Real Madrid’s most dangerous attacking player. The addition of Angel Di Maria to Real Madrid’s central midfield, and his energetic and technical play, balanced their defense and attack, bringing stability and cohesion to Real Madrid’s play.
Also Manchester United not playing in the Champions League means Di Maria can’t play at the highest level in Europe. With no guarantees that United will be in the Champions League next season,Di Maria might leave if United don’t finish in the top 4.
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