Tyrell Malacia was one of Manchester United’s best players before the international break. Since then he has slipped to second choice, with Luke Shaw taking his spot.
Malacia has been rotating back in for Europa League games, and last night was his best performance in the past month.
There was little credit for him after the game, just one per cent of fans voted him man of the match in United’s poll. It was a game where he slipped under the radar, and yet was still very good.
Malacia’s game highlight came in the first half, when he drove into the box and forced the Sheriff goalkeeper into a good save low at his near post.
He was an available outlet on the overlap to Alejandro Garnacho too, but the winger did not always pick him out.
Malacia completed 65 of 68 pass attempts, 96 per cent, creating one goalscoring chance.
He did not have too much defensive work to do, but won one tackle and made five ball recoveries.
Later in the game Malacia switched out to right-back, with Luke Shaw coming on replace Diogo Dalot. He made the same switch in the away game in Moldova.
His performance largely went unnoticed, partly due to the efforts of Shaw – who overshadowed him with his game-changing contribution.
Luke Shaw starred too
As good as Malacia is and has been, Luke Shaw has simply been at a different level over the past few weeks.
It took Shaw just three minutes after coming on, to make his mark on the game.
Shaw provided the assist for Marcus Rashford’s goal, re-establishing a connection between the pair which has been so fruitful in the past.
His cross set Rashford up to head the ball into the net for his 99th club career goal.
This was Shaw’s second assist in successive games, and he has certainly responded well to the threat to his place from Malacia.
United are fortunate to have two very good players competing for the same position, while at right-back Diogo Dalot goes from strength to strength.
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