Manchester United should start Christian Eriksen vs Man City - but in a different role

On the upper floor of the main building at Carrington, past the five floodlit trophies on permanent display and through the double doors, journalists were crammed into a meeting room for Erik ten Hag's press conference on Tuesday.

A Danish journalist demanded to know why Christian Eriksen was not starting for Manchester United. Around 34 hours later in the hushed press conference room at Old Trafford, another Danish journalist asked about Eriksen's impact against Copenhagen..

"He was part of it, definitely," Ten Hag acknowledged. "I think our build-up got fluid, more fluid, once he came in. But we made some adjustments in other positions, in other constructions and cooperations.

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"But Christian definitely played a big part in that. His timings were good to get free and on the ball his decision-making was good and the best example was the assist for Harry Maguire's goal."

'Why isn't Eriksen starting?' is a question on the lips of United fans. Eriksen should have started against Sheffield United and didn't. He came on with the game deadlocked and United won. Eriksen should have started against Copenhagen and didn't. He came on with the game deadlocked and United won.

The 31-year-old, born on Valentine's Day, looks as fresh as a bunch of roses. Ten Hag has adjusted his use of Eriksen, having substituted him in 25 of his 37 starts last season. Eriksen has only been hooked in one of his four starts this season.

His game-changing role is a snug fit. Eriksen has emerged at half-time in United's last three home matches and he has replaced a defensive midfielder in the last two. In games where United are