Ander Herrera has not scored the goals of Marcus Rashford or made headlines like Paul Pogba during Manchester United’s recent revival, but his brilliant form singles him out as a player of unequalled importance, and proves why he should be the next club captain.
Under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer many players have been rejuvenated. Chiefly Pogba, Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial. In fact, it would perhaps be easier to find a player whose performances haven’t improved under the interim manager.
There have been other unsung heroes too. Luke Shaw had been one of the few – if the only one – United players enjoying a stellar campaign under moody Mourinho.
Nemanja Matic – whose future was thought to be murky following the Portuguese’s departure as he was one of few acolytes – has looked like the commanding midfield maestro of old.
And the much-maligned Victor Lindelof, who in truth has enjoyed a quietly impressive first half of the season, is laying waste to the assumption that there are no fit for purpose central defenders at the club.
No words @D_DeGea
— Ander Herrera (@AnderHerrera) 13 January 2019
What an attitude from the whole SQUAD! 🔴 @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/NFH8aIzidK
But Herrera has been a revelation and is back to his effervescent best, once again snapping around midfield and harrying opponents in his energetic, uncompromising, insatiable style. Having broken up an attack he then possesses the rare, dual talent of being able to set up chances with his repertoire of world-class passing.
Like Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marouane Fellaini and Antonio Valencia, he is often the vehicle United fans use to carry their venom. He has often been derided as a figure of resentment during his time at Old Trafford and is as much heralded as he is harangued by Red Devils fans.
His contract runs out in the summer and supporters are split on whether they’d like him to stay. This despite the fact he has clearly been one of the top performers under Solskjaer.
His 88.2 per cent pass success in the Premier League this season ranks him 21st among his peers, 12th among midfielders. His 633 total passes places him 113th, but only nine players above him in the list have played fewer times – Herrera has made 15 league appearances.
At United his resurgence is stark. When he disturbed the David De Gea dominance on United’s Player of the Year award three seasons ago he ranked first in games played, assists, tackles and interceptions, and second in passes among midfielders.
Those statistics dropped to fifth (games played, assists), second (tackles, interceptions) and fourth in passes the following season, but this year – aided by the Solskjaer-led revival – he is climbing back to his best.
Despite five midfielders playing more games at United, Herrera is second in assists and tackles, first in interceptions and third in passes.
Herrera was named man of the match as United beat Ajax to lift the Europa League trophy in 2016/17.
In recent weeks he has showcased all the facets of his game that make him a standout. He has a sharp mind and is excellent in tight spaces; his turn to lose two markers on the halfway line against Spurs at Wembley on Sunday was effortless.
He sees passes not many others see – a trait he shares with Pogba. And he is equally adept breaking up opposition attacks or sparking and participating in United’s own.
Herrera has always possessed these myriad qualities. He has always been a fastidious footballer and an eager, dedicated scholar of the game.
His attributes and worth have understandably been lost amidst the smog created by Mourinho. He is not a heavy scorer of goals, nor does he have the flair of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne or Pogba.
But that is to dismiss his immeasurable value to Solskjaer and United. He was misused by Mourinho, which is odd given some of the praise lavished on his charge by the Portuguese on various occasions.
In the Europa League triumph during Mourinho’s debut season at the helm, Herrera was actually the architect of that victory over Ajax.
Instructed to be positioned in the penalty box for the corner from which Henrikh Mkhitaryan netted the game-clinching second goal just after half-time, the Spaniard took matters into his own hands.
He swapped places with the defensively-suspect Armenian – positioned on the edge of the box in the case of an Ajax counter – knowing he was more diligent. Mkhitaryan, now at Arsenal, in turn is more of a goal threat. Pogba and Mkhitaryan grabbed the goals. Herrera won the man of the match award.
Several articles published in the wake of United’s triumph offered the opinion that Herrera was/is United’s most important player. It was even suggested that with Wayne Rooney heading toward the exit door that summer, Herrera was a prime candidate for the captaincy.
Some critics, some United fans, would scoff at such a notion. But with Pogba not quite mature enough for the armband and incumbents Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia not stellar enough or their United futures insecure, Herrera is the standout choice.
Herrera and De Gea have shared the last five United Player of the Year awards between them.
In the few games under Solskjaer, the Norwegian has simply played to Herrera’s strengths – utilising his biting energy in defence and allowing him to roam forward and affect the attack, rather than ordering him to pass sideways or stay in a fixed zone of the field.
Herrera has subsequently wreaked havoc and United reaped the rewards. Now, it is time the 29-year-old was rewarded.
United must start by pinning a player entering his prime down for the foreseeable future.
After that, whether it is a decision taken by Solskjaer or the next permanent United boss, installing a player already a natural leader on the field as captain, is the next step.
