Manchester United might have found replacements for Casemiro and Mason Mount

When Erik ten Hag defended his Manchester United record this week and insisted the players were on the same page, he made it clear he had no plans to backtrack from the "proactive, dynamic, brave" football he had tried to develop this season - and that his players wanted that too.

His set-up against Chelsea was evidence of just that. Scott McTominay, used as a holding midfielder in previous regimes, had seven of United's 28 shots and his nine touches in the attacking penalty area, which was five more than Rasmus Hojlund and by some distance the most McTominay has had this season.

The Scot is now United's top scorer for the campaign and a major goal threat in the opposition area, as is Bruno Fernandes, who has five goals for the season. But the fact United are committing two midfielders forward to the attack is an indication of what Ten Hag has changed this season.

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It was clear from pre-season that he wanted to develop United into a 4-3-3, with one holding midfielder and two in more advanced roles. In Ten Hag's mind, this was probably going to be Casemiro at the base of midfield and Mason Mount and Fernandes as the No. 8s.

But too often the centre of the pitch has been a problem for United. They have lacked physicality and energy and been too easily overrun. Injuries are playing a part in selection at the moment, with Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Mount all absent, but Casemiro could have been dropped and Mount already has been dropped.

Instead, Ten Hag has stumbled upon his system which makes the most of McTominay's threats around the opposition area. He might not be as technical a