Van de Beek raakte bal niet aan bij winnende United-goal, maar had wel hoofdrol

Donny van de Beek mocht maandagavond weer eens invallen bij Manchester United. De oud-Ajacied kwam een kleine 10 minuten voor tijd binnen de lijnen en was kort daarna al belangrijk en dat terwijl hij de bal NIET eens raakte. Hoe dat zit lees je hieronder.

Een Manchester United-fan heeft op Twitter (@utdarena) een draadje gemaakt waarom Van de Beek zo belangrijk was. Met zijn loopacties creëerde de Nederlander ruimte voor Bruno Fernandes en Mason Greenwood, die de winnende treffer maakte: 2-1.

Initially, Donny makes a run to the wing which drags the opposition defender wider. The benefit here is that even if he doesn't receive the ball he's opened up space on the inside for a runner to exploit. pic.twitter.com/nBnLnn6OEw
— UtdArena (@utdarena) April 5, 2021

This is exactly what Bruno does. He notices Donny's run quite early and makes his move as soon as he starts to see Donny complete his move. It's beautiful to watch. Shaw's pass here—outside of the foot—was incisive.

Donny's movement is the reason for us entering their box. pic.twitter.com/5unCmHP5d7
— UtdArena (@utdarena) April 5, 2021

Then, he makes this run to the edge of the 6-yard box because he *loves* to create opportunities from here. The visualisation highlights this clearly.

He draws the attention of TWO Brighton defenders and it create space for who? Mason Greenwood. pic.twitter.com/DhbwjqZNzA
— UtdArena (@utdarena) April 5, 2021

Donny checks his run into the centre and both him and Mason end up in acres of space in such a valuable zone. How? Because Donny's movement constantly dragged Brighton's defence into different less valuable areas, allowing us to run into high valuable areas. pic.twitter.com/GVU8DsSFN4
— UtdArena (@utdarena) April 5, 2021

Donny's movement for the goal is a great example of how moving into lesser valuable zones can result in greater overall value. Why? Because defenders are constantly taught to close off angles and free movement so Donny uses that against them. How does he do it here?
— UtdArena (@utdarena) April 5, 2021

If the defender lets him run to the wing initially he could stay home and then guard Donny out wide. This would prevent any space for Bruno to drive into. But: Donny used the defender's instincts—“get close to the man/don't let him turn”—against him which creates the space.
— UtdArena (@utdarena) April 5, 2021

Then, when he's in the box he drags a defender out from a more valuable zone (centre) to a less valuable zone (wider) simply because he makes that run.

This opened up that central zone for Mason to just slot into completely and utterly unmarked.
— UtdArena (@utdarena) April 5, 2021

Donny's impact in that game-winning goal was immense. Yet, he didn't take a single touch on the ball. Playmaking is about deciding which spaces to create, creating them and then exploiting them.

Donny showed us a perfect example of that.
— UtdArena (@utdarena) April 5, 2021

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Van de Beek raakte bal niet aan bij winnende United-goal, maar had wel hoofdrol

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