The debate rages on over whether Manchester United are creative enough under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, given we still look strongest when afforded space into which to counter attack.
Using WhoScored’s stats, we’ve taken a look at the ten United players who have created the most chances per game in the Premier League this season…
10) Scott McTominay (0.6 key passes per game)
McTominay has added more of a goal threat to his game this season, but still has a bit more to do in terms of setting up chances.
Playing alongside a stronger defensive midfielder would help as it would free him up to bomb forward even more.
=8) Paul Pogba (0.7)
You’d expect to see Pogba higher up this list really, even taking into account the injury problems he’s had this season.
Solskjaer has even played Pogba further forward at times, deploying him off the left and right, but it obviously hasn’t led to a huge amount of key passes.
=8) Aaron Wan-Bissaka (0.7)
There has been a marked improvement in Wan-Bissaka’s attacking output in the second part of the season but there is also still more to come.
He sometimes hurries his crosses, which can lead to them being slashed aimlessly across the box or too deep and out of play.
=6) Anthony Martial (0.8)
Martial’s goal output has dropped off this season and his inconsistency has returned.
That means it’s a surprise to see him ahead of the likes of Pogba on this list.
=6) Fred (0.8)
You also wouldn’t expect to see Fred ahead of Pogba and even McTominay on this list.
But that means none of the three midfielders Solskjaer uses most often in the deepest midfield positions is creating even one chance per game on average.
That suggests an issue Solskjaer might want to rectify in the summer.
5) Juan Mata (1.1)
Mata has only started four Premier League games and come on as sub in another three, which does distort his numbers somewhat.
That said, his tally suggests he might have been worthy of more chances, especially against sides who sit deeper.
4) Marcus Rashford (1.2)
Rashford has played through the pain barrier pretty much all season for United.
His creativity is likely one reason Solskjaer has been so reluctant to give him a rest.
Rashford has United’s second-most league assists this season with seven.
3) Alex Telles (1.4)
Like Mata, Telles hasn’t played all that often in the league, starting six times and coming off the bench once.
United knew they were getting a top-drawer crosser when they signed him and so far it’s proved that way.
Then again, if you’d been told in September that a United summer signing would be the third most creative player at the club in March, you’d have expected it to be Donny van de Beek and not Telles.
2) Luke Shaw (2.1)
Telles’ arrival is one of the factors which has pushed Shaw on to new heights this season.
He’s got five assists already and is Bruno Fernandes’ most realistic contender for the club’s Player of the Season.
1) Bruno Fernandes (2.8)
Speaking of Fernandes, he heads up the list as you’d expect.
The numbers back up what many can see when you watch United; we’re too reliant on him for creativity.
Easing the burden on Bruno has to be a priority in the summer, by adding more creativity from wide areas or deeper in midfield – or both.
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