Manchester United have a key tactical change to make without dropping a player

One of the minor tactical adjustments Erik ten Hag has made in Manchester United's opening matches is also a familiar one: Diogo Dalot at left back.

Noussair Mazraoui, recruited primarily to compete with Dalot at right back, is capable of playing on the opposite flank yet warmed up on the right ahead of United's opening Premier League fixture against Fulham and has stayed there.

Dalot started 13 times at left back last season, lining up there in six of the final seven matches. Ten Hag attempted to retain him at right back with Aaron Wan-Bissaka an auxiliary left back but that experiment ended after the season's nadir at Crystal Palace. Then Wan-Bissaka's United career ended the same time as Mazraoui's began.

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Mazraoui has had a reasonably solid start at United, starting in all three games he has been available for. That is likely to continue for the foreseeable, with left backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia still weeks away and Harry Amass deemed too raw for competitive contests by Ten Hag.

Switching Dalot and Mazraoui now would be in United's interests. Dalot scored for Portugal in their Nations League win against Croatia and came on to help them to a late victory over Scotland three days later. On both occasions, he played at right back.

In the Premier League, Dalot is in the top five for most interceptions with seven and he has recovered the most ball possessions. He won the United players' player of the year award last term and his contract renewal in 2028 signalled the club's faith in him as their long-term right back. Ten Hag is not maximising Dalot by starting him on the left, though.

Dalot still nearly