ERIK TEN HAG’S tactical tweak outfoxed Pep Guardiola as he deployed an unsung Manchester United hero in a shock new position.
The Dutchman secured his second trophy as Man City were trumped 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo secured victory for United on Saturday.
The Red Devils kept City at bay for most of the match, with the Premier League champions unable to make an impact until Jeremy Doku’s goal in the 87th minute.
And it was all down to a brilliant tactical tweak from Ten Hag involving fan favourite Scott McTominay.
The Scot is usually deployed as a box-to-box midfielder and occasionally even plays as a No10.
But in the FA Cup final, McTominay formed part of a front two with Bruno Fernandes.
The two men were effectively deployed as false nines, with Garnacho and Marcus Rashford providing width as Mainoo and Sofyan Amrabat tidied things up in deeper positions.
United’s average positions for the game revealed McTominay and Fernandes played in a straight line with Rashford and Garnacho.
Creating a 4-2-4 shape, it allowed the Red Devils to overload the centre of the pitch and dominate City’s midfield.
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Indeed, McTominay’s heat map also showed he was very much focused on patrolling an advanced area of the field.
The ace also drifted out left and right on occasion to provide support on the flanks.
And he also dropped back to help out with defence.
McTominay will now be hoping he can finally nail down a regular spot in United’s starting XI next term.
But it remains to be seen if Ten Hag is there to play him, with the Dutchman tipped to leave Old Trafford.
He said: “Two trophies in two seasons and three finals… not bad.
“If they (United) don’t want me anymore, I’ll go somewhere else and win trophies. That’s what I do.”
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