Carrick says van de Beek is capable of playing as a false nine

Add as preferred source on Google

Donny van de Beek was a conundrum for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer throughout his Manchester United reign.

In the first game since Solskjaer’s sacking, van de Beek was in the team ahead of Bruno Fernandes.

Michael Carrick fielded him in a disciplined role in a compact 4-3-3 formation against Villarreal on Tuesday night.

At his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to face Chelsea, Carrick also said that van de Beek can play as a false nine, a role Solskjaer never fielded him in.

“Donny’s one of those players where because he’s so flexible, he can play different positions,” said Carrick. “He’s done the same for Ajax before he came here, so he’s used to that, and he’s done that for Holland as well.

“Variety can be a real strength. We’ve got ideas where we think Donny is most suited but, as I said, actually he’s so flexible and so adaptable that the two or three positions in and around midfield.

“He even played, you could argue, a false nine for Ajax at times in the Champions League where they ended up getting beat by Tottenham.

“So, yeah, of course we’ve got ideas for it but being so flexible is a real strength and a credit to what he can be for the team.”

Solskjaer never seemed sure where to fit van de Beek into his team, especially given Fernandes was virtually undroppable in the number ten role.

Van de Beek sometimes played in a deeper role, and also off the left at times, but never as a false nine.

With Cristiano Ronaldo at United now, it feels very unlikely van de Beek will play as a false nine at Old Trafford.

But Ralf Rangnick is set to come in and he is an original thinker about football and every player will have a clean slate under the new boss so nothing should be ruled out completely.

• Jason Wilcox has just shown why Amorim had to be sacked with pointed praise for Michael Carrick
• Newcastle’s £46m rejected bid proves that Man Utd have completed the best deal of the summer
• Michael Carrick might have provided a hint on Patrick Dorgu plans as transfer priority becomes clear
• Who is Tynan Thompson? Exciting Spurs wonderkid linked with move to Man Utd
• Ruben Amorim’s biggest wonderkid success story is ending brutally as Man Utd pre-season begins