Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri may find himself in contention for a regular starting role under manager Erik ten Hag following an impressive performance against Burnley in the Premier League.
The young player received an unexpected start at Turf Moor during the Saturday night match and made the most of the opportunity. He displayed impressive pressing throughout the game.
With a passing accuracy of 91 per cent, he won four duels and made two successful tackles, showcasing his energy on the field.
Manager Ten Hag was open in his praise for Mejbri, describing his performance as “perfect” and highlighting his excellent pressing alongside Rasmus Hojlund during the match.
While speaking to the club’s official website, he said:
“Like tonight, Hannibal, who did a perfect job. He brought what I hoped he could do, and I’ve seen it in pre-season, he brings a lot of energy to the team. His pressing with Rasmus Hojlund was very good. It was excellent.”
Mejbri had a promising pre-season with United but didn’t make appearances in the initial weeks of the campaign, leading to rumours of a possible sale by the club.
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Nevertheless, manager Ten Hag ultimately decided to retain him, a choice that has proven to be a wise one. The Tunisian star recently scored a remarkable long-range goal against Brighton, even though the team didn’t win the match.
Ten Hag refrained from starting the African star against Bayern Munich initially, but Mejbri earned a place in the starting lineup the previous night. His performance has potentially improved his prospects of becoming a consistent starter.
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The manager opted for a 4-3-3 formation that transitioned into a 4-2-3-1 during attacking moves. Mejbri played in a central attacking midfield position.
It’s likely that he will maintain his position in the upcoming matches.
