91% passing accuracy: £21 million Man Utd midfielder outclasses Chelsea’s £200m duo

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When the team news dropped an hour before kick-off, there were some audible groans when Kobbie Mainoo was left out for Manchester United.

In came Sofyan Amrabat who had much to prove following a rather dismal few months in the Premier League for Manchester United and this was verging on the last chance saloon territory.

Despite being just four months into his loan deal from Fiorentina, the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo meant the Moroccan’s future at Old Trafford looked to be heading only one way.

However, that decision may need some rethinking as the Moroccan midfielder finally showed the Red Devils what they have been waiting for.

Amrabat’s game by numbers

The 27-year-old started alongside Scott McTominay and kept things simple alongside the Scottish midfielder, who scored both goals for the Red Devils at Old Trafford.

Amrabat did the role that usually evades praise but the midfielder kept things simple and kept things ticking for the Red Devils, which is shown by his 92% passing accuracy.

As well as this, the former FC Utrecht midfielder won 71% of the ground duels he contested and against a £200 million midfield in Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, shone alongside his Scottish teammate.

Amrabat struggled in the months prior to the win over Chelsea but on a night where the performance really counted, the 27-year-old stood up and performed very well.

Amrabat could be key to solving big problem

Despite the Moroccan’s performance in the middle of the park, the Red Devils still looked open and allowed the visitors to create chance after chance, in the first half in particular.

Mainoo has looked brilliant during his brief stint in the United first team but potentially partnering the 18-year-old with Amrabat could be the key to finding the right formula to get the best out of the team and provide that defensive security that is desperately needed.

It would be incredibly harsh to drop McTominay after such a brilliant performance against the Blues but if the midfielder struggles to keep up this goalscoring form, Mainoo and Amrabat should be the pairing going forward.

Control is king for Ten Hag and if that pairing did start against Bournemouth, the Dutchman would have what he craves the most.