Christian Eriksen's return against Nottingham Forest has reestablished Manchester United's finest pairing.

Man United defeated Nottingham Forest 2-0 at the City Ground, with Christian Eriksen contributing greatly to the victory.

It's been simple to see Manchester United in a negative light this week. Erik ten Hag's job is much more difficult after throwing away a commanding lead against Sevilla and suffering a series of devastating injuries at a pivotal time.

Another unfortunate incident occurred at the City Ground, yet a bright spot emerged from the cloud. A familiar face returned to Ten Hag's squad even though Marcel Sabitzer was injured in pregame warm-ups against Nottingham Forest.

Although United will be without several key players due to suspensions and injuries, the return of Christian Eriksen to play with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the middle of the field might provide some much-needed relief. Even though their leading scorer was out, both central defenders were injured, and a right back was playing left back, Eriksen was once again orchestrating the team's success.

Recent performances by Sabitzer have helped make this United's best midfield. The Austrian was brought in when Eriksen suffered an ankle injury during the FA Cup win against Reading and has proven to be a solid stopgap, but he lacks the quality that Eriksen provides.

Eriksen's 13-minute appearance against Everton last week and nearly 30-minute showing against Sevilla in the midweek were both far earlier than United had hoped for, but he showed no rust in either game.

He was playing with adolescents Marc Jurado and Zidane Iqbal 15 minutes before kickoff when Mitchell van der Gaag contacted him and advised him to get ready for an elevation to the starting XI. After that, he got some space to run through his drills, and as he was leaving the field, he got the news that he was being added to the squad. In all appearances, he had never left.

Against a struggling Forest team, United did not have it easy. They had to ride out a rough patch early on, but once they did, they dominated play in the midfield and ultimately won the game. Casemiro played well, Eriksen was amazing, and Fernandes was superb. They deserved the 2-0 victory that they got.

Recommended: Manchester United's huge transformation under Erik ten Hag was evident against Nottingham Forest.

Their impact on the game and its outcome were undeniable. In 79 minutes of action, Eriksen had 80 touches and completed 55% of his 62 pass attempts. He made everything look easy and kept things going along. Compared to Casemiro's 54 touches, Fernandes had 96. Since Eriksen's injury, United's 68% possession rate has been their best in the Premier League.

United will benefit greatly from Eriksen's comeback. This week in Seville, Fernandes will be needed in the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan for the second leg of the Europa League quarterfinal. Next Saturday, he'll be called upon to make a significant impact against a Brighton team that likes to control the ball at Wembley.

In Eriksen's absence, both Sabitzer and Fred have provided United with a new dimension. United hasn't missed their summer free agent as much as many might have thought they would have.

While Sabitzer and Fred inject vitality into the middle of the field, Eriksen maintains order. He can be a calming presence for United in sometimes frenetic Premier League contests. Eriksen led United to victory despite the odds, as they faced desperate opposition while playing with a depleted roster.

Recently, Ten Hag suggested that Eriksen, like Anthony Martial, can improve United's play. The fact that Fernandes had a sparring partner available to pass back and forth with felt like more than just a coincidence. Fernandes' performance would have been perfect if only he'd scored.

Even though the Carrington treatment room is still bustling, the return of Eriksen to the lineup and in the driver's seat is enough to boost morale before a crucial week for United.


Sophia Ela

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Jonah Ekeh 37 w

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Gloman 42 w

Hmmm