Alex Telles had a mixed evening as he was recalled to Manchester United starting line-up against Sheffield United.
Telles has had to play second fiddle due to the outstanding performances from Luke Shaw lately, and this was just his second start in 2021.
He showed during the game what he can bring to the table, good and bad.
The positives first. Telles created United’s goal with a pinpoint corner kick to Harry Maguire. It was one of two chances he created.
He almost scored a second goal for United when his long range effort was tipped over.
Onto the negatives, the jury is still out on Telles defensively. He was too passive as Sheffield United scored their winner. He was not the only one; four or five players could have done more, but this doesn’t excuse Telles either.
When Luke Shaw came on in the 81st minute he had 25 touches. This was nearly a third of the 79 touches Telles had all game. This highlighted why Shaw is seen as a preferential option by Solskjaer, because of the all round impact he has.
More assists
Telles now has more assists than Shaw this season with three to two.
Shaw has played 1,776 minutes and Telles has 977 minutes of action to his name.
It’s an interesting statistic which suggests Telles would be providing more offensively if he was given more opportunities.
Shaw has been unlucky with players wasting the chances he has created, but then so has Telles, who created six chances in the win over Watford in his previous start, a figure only bettered by Fernandes this season.
Solskjaer likes Shaw defensively, and isn’t willing to give up what he offers for Telles on a regular basis. So can United find a way to play them both together?
United did this on Telles’ debut, with Shaw as part of a back three. But this involves adjusting the whole formation to a 3-4-1-2 and United have made this a rarity rather than a regularity. It is not Solskjaer’s preferred way of playing. There may be a different answer.
Telles on the wing
One solution which it feels like United ought to try is to play Alex Telles as a left winger.
He has the crossing ability, as his performances already this season have shown, with his assists already bettering Shaw’s.
This also takes some of the defensive responsibility away from Telles’ defensively, as he will be playing in a forward role.
United actually need wingers, and Telles could help, temporarily at least, find a solution to the issue on the left hand side, perhaps allowing Marcus Rashford to move to the right to receive his crosses, and Edinson Cavani in the centre.
Telles’ defensive grounding will ensure he drops back in to support Shaw and double up, and cover when the left-back drives forward himself.
The pair have spoken about their good relationship in training and pushing each other on. In the same starting line-up, they could really make an impact.
When United struggle to break teams down, having a player like Telles who can create chances high up the pitch on a regular basis can be a difference maker. This is increasingly looking like an experimental option which Solskjaer should consider, as a way to get the best out of both of his left-backs.
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