Baleba fills Casemiro void, boosting United midfield

Manchester United’s atmosphere has deteriorated following Lisandro Martinez’s post-match comments against Atletico Madrid and a loss to Spurs. This negativity often overshadows on-pitch performance, making it difficult for managers since Sir Alex Ferguson to reverse such spirals.

Midfield Progression and Space Creation

Despite the gloom, new signing Carlos Baleba offers potential solutions. In 97 minutes of play, he demonstrated an ability to fill the void left by Casemiro. His first start came against Atletico Madrid, where United deserved more, followed by a substitute appearance against Tottenham Hotspur that helped build momentum.

Kobbie Mainoo excels at progressing the ball from defense to attack, while Youri Tielemans struggles defensively when out of possession. Baleba combines ball progression with strong defensive capabilities. A key skill is taking the ball on the half-turn while facing his own goal, creating space and bypassing pressure.

During the Atletico match, as Senne Lammens faced closing down, Baleba actively requested the ball. Upon receiving it on his right foot, he darted forward, eliminating an opponent and generating space. Against Tottenham, the presence of both Mainoo and Baleba allowed United to settle in the second half, as two players could receive, evade challenges, and retain possession anywhere on the pitch.

Defensive Coverage and Interceptions

This dynamic makes pressing United harder and allows midfielders to create central space, enabling attackers like Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes to stay high rather than dropping deep to progress the ball. Their previous tendency to drop into midfield reduced the number of attackers in advanced positions.

United’s decline may be linked to Casemiro’s departure, which removed set-piece threats and defensive stability. The team lacked aggression until Baleba’s ground coverage and destroyer role emerged. Against Tottenham, he tracked back 30 yards to tackle Sandro Tonali and Dominic Solanke.

He also blocks passes by positioning himself correctly near opponents. United have conceded goals due to errors, such as Martinez’s tussle with Solanke or an own goal against Fulham. Before Baleba was fit, no midfielder consistently stopped these moves early. Against Spurs, he read a full-back’s intention to pass up to Solanke and intercepted the aerial ball.

Baleba maintains energy despite defeats, offering qualities absent in other signings like Tielemans or Andrey Santos. United performed markedly better during his time on the pitch—second half against Tottenham and one hour against Atletico. While tactical holes exist in Carrick’s setup, the team often appeared lackadaisical. Baleba brings verve and defensive know-how to a squad needing hope.