Leeds United may have settled for a point against Manchester United at Elland Road, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin had no trouble responding when asked about the visitors’ tactical approach.
The two sides finished 1-1, with Leeds having to work through a difficult spell before the break as Manchester United tried to adjust to their shape. The visitors’ decision to match Leeds formation-wise was particularly interesting given what happened when the sides met at Old Trafford last season.
Leeds won that encounter, handing Manchester United a result they would have been keen to avoid repeating. Calvert-Lewin made it clear he wasn’t surprised to see them try a different approach this time around.
Read More: Gary Neville says Leeds United man escaped red card vs Man Utd
Calvert-Lewin takes a swipe at Man Utd’s tactical change
Speaking to Sky Sports about what was said at half-time, the Leeds striker explained that the focus was on improving their decisions in possession rather than getting too caught up in Manchester United’s tactics.
“More so, just be more confident in possession and choices about when to cross, and when to keep the ball, I think it [the change] was down to that”, Calvert-Lewin said.
“They tried to [match us formation-wise]. Not really surprised. Given what happened last season [Leeds winning 2-1 at Old Trafford].
“It took us a little bit to adjust, but it was mainly down to us and maybe a lack of quality in the final third.”
The reference to last season was hard to miss. Leeds’ victory at Old Trafford had clearly stayed in the memory, and Calvert-Lewin’s comments suggested the visitors had taken that experience into account when preparing for the return fixture.
It wasn’t an outright dismissal of Manchester United, but the striker’s response carried a clear edge. Leeds’ performance forced the visitors to think about how best to counter them, even if the home side felt their own final-third execution could have been better.
Read More: Micah Richards slams Leeds United player for what he did vs Man Utd
Leeds striker refuses to dismiss Man Utd’s quality
Calvert-Lewin also refused to write off the opposition, despite the tactical subplot and the noise surrounding Manchester United in recent weeks.
“They are still a very good team with a lot of quality, regardless of the outside noise. We are so used to it as players,” he added.
That is a sensible reminder that Manchester United remain dangerous, regardless of their recent form or the criticism they face. Leeds could take encouragement from forcing them to adapt, but the draw also showed they could have done more to turn their performance into a win.
For Calvert-Lewin, the bigger frustration seemed to be Leeds’ decision-making in possession and their failure to make enough of their chances. The formation battle made for an intriguing subplot, but he made it clear his side had to look at themselves first.
Still, with last season’s Old Trafford win still fresh in mind, the suggestion that Manchester United had tried to match Leeds’ shape was bound to catch the eye. The draw may not have delivered another famous victory, but Calvert-Lewin’s comments ensured the tactical story would not be forgotten.
Tanaka MOM at Arsenal was anonymous.ous everyones human. together with Oxafor. Farke should have been subbed at half time and Nemecha who made a difference and Aaronson should have come on. No disrespect to Longstaff who came on and didn’t do too bad. No sense in having another forgotten player.