Erik ten Hag has been keen to highlight the difference between Manchester United’s current squad and the one that lost 4-0 at Selhurst Park in May.
On arguably the lowest ebb of the Dutchman’s Red Devils reign, Palace stormed into a four-goal lead just after the hour mark with Michael Olise – so heavily linked with Manchester United at the time – running riot.
United had Casemiro and Jonny Evans playing together at centre-half and Aaron Wan-Bissaka at left-back due to a seemingly never-ending defensive injury crisis.
On the bench were Ethan Wheatley, Harry Amass, Habeeb Ogunneye, Louis Jackson, and a pre-debut Toby Collyer. There was no Marcus Rashford, no Lisandro Martinez, and even no Bruno Fernandes.
And while that is still no real excuse for such a horror showing in South London, Ten Hag does feel that Man United are in a far better place ahead of their return to Selhurst.
Not only because the injuries have largely cleared up – Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund almost back – but because an impressive summer window has improved the depth of his squad immeasurably.
Manchester United have Christain Eriksen back in form
“Saturday will be different,” Ten Hag says, via BBC Sport. “From February onwards, we had to find 11 players to construct a team. Now it is 18.”
One of those certain to be in his chosen 18 this weekend is Christian Eriksen.
After stellar showings against Southampton and Barnsley – he struck a brace in the 7-0 Carabao Cup thrashing – maybe Eriksen will even be part of Ten Hag’s 11.
The veteran Dane is sticking around until the New Year at the earliest.
After turning down offers from America, Turkey and the Middle East – and with Anderlecht backing away from a deal they felt was ‘not feasible’ in the end – a couple of rolling-back-the-years sort of displays might just trigger an unexpected career revival for Eriksen at Old Trafford.
Even if he is relegated to the bench against Palace, the fact that Ten Hag could call upon the likes of Eriksen, Casemiro, Alejandro Garnacho, Harry Maguire and Antony is testament to what the Dutchman meant when he highlighted the growing strength of his previously paper-thin squad.
As far as that aborted switch to Anderlecht is concerned, meanwhile, Eriksen suddenly feels a lot better off at United. Even if his role may be that of a rotation option, with many of his starts likely to come in the cups.
Dane got lucky with failed Anderlecht switch
Then-Anderlecht boss Brian Riemer appeared a driving force behind their interest in Eriksen over the summer.
A former assistant to Thomas Frank, Riemer worked closely with Eriksen during his fine spell at Brentford after all.
“I know Christian Eriksen well, yes,” Riemer told DH Net in July. “We worked together at Brentford three years ago and I still exchange messages with Christian regularly.”
Less than two months after he made those comments, Eriksen is forcing his way back into Ten Hag’s plans while Anderlecht are on the lookout for a new boss.
Riemer was sacked this week following a run of one win in five Belgian Jupiler League matches.
Who knows, perhaps he would still be in a job had the ex-Bees coach managed to reunite with Eriksen in Brussels?
But, as of right now, the veteran playmaker feels better off fighting for his place at Man United. A fight, should he maintain his excellent recent form, Eriksen may have a good chance of winning.
“I feel very good being at United,” Eriksen told The Standard after that Barnsley obliteration. “If they told me to leave, I would leave. But I didn’t hear that.
“I’m a guy who likes being in a place where my family is settled and, at the same time, being in a place where I can benefit and play. That’s always going to be my aim,” adds Eriksen, starting successive games for the first time since late-April and early-May.
“There’s one year left (on my contract). So my focus is going to be on this year, going full out and see what happens afterwards.
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