Marcos Rojo Is Proving To Be A Worthy Replacement For Luke Shaw

It’s a complicated time for Manchester United fans. There’s no denying that the football under Louis Van Gaal has been taxing to watch. Either we look stagnant for ninety minutes or start brightly before then regressing to it.

But, let’s not forget, we’re still 2nd in the league, and we’ll go top if we beat Leicester City at the weekend. Plus, while we’ve admittedly made it very hard on ourselves, we still have Champions League qualification in our own hands, and, defensively, it’s the best we’ve looked since Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Edwin Van Der Sar were in their pomp.

Like most things related to the beautiful game, United’s current plight is mired in grey, and both sides of the argument to just how good or bad Louis Van Gaal’s team are, at the moment, equally valid.

So, let’s move onto something that we can all universally agree on. Let’s talk about Marcos Rojo’s rise from the ashes of defensive uncertainty, while at the same time drawing specific praise to his crossing, and just how technically brilliant and deliciously inviting it is.

Because, sadly, that was one of the only positives that came out of Wednesday’s abysmal, scoreless stalemate against PSV. Obviously Anthony Martial’s finishing, Memphis Depay’s movement, Louis Van Gaal’s substitutions or anything even remotely to do with Wayne Rooney’s game weren’t going to provide joy.

It was in the corresponding fixture with PSV Eindhoven back in September where Luke Shaw’s impressive start to the season came to an agonisingly abrupt end. Marcos Rojo was introduced in his place, and a re-jig by Van Gaal pushed Daley Blind out to left back and paired Rojo with Chris Smalling.

United subsequently lost the game 2-1, and there were worries that because of the start Shaw had made, and the pressure that would come with replacing him, Rojo might falter. These were only enhanced after a poor showing away at Southampton where he looked over-run, ill-disciplined, and a liability.

But over recent weeks Rojo has righted those wrongs and settled neatly into the back four, while alongside Chris Smalling and Daley Blind he has brought a stability to United’s defence that’s been missing for over two seasons.

Rojo was also absent from the 3-0 shellacking that United took from Arsenal - a game that accounts for 35% of the goals Van Gaal’s side have conceded in the Premier League this season - and since then he has become more and more confident and assured.

Sure, against Watford his lazy tackle, and the penalty that followed, almost cost United two points, but after a long and arduous journey back from South America after playing in two World Cup qualifiers that was understandable. Especially since Louis Van Gaal tinkered with his defence on at least two occasions in the game, going from a flat back four to three at the back over the course of the 65 minutes Rojo was on the pitch.

Before the Watford game though Marcos Rojo had started the seven previous games, during which United had only conceded one goal - a rebound from a penalty away at CSKA Moscow.

But while Louis Van Gaal has struggled to find his first-choice right-back between Phil Jones, Matteo Darmian, Ashley Young, and Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo has cemented his left-back berth, and is now repeatedly growing in confidence.

With Daley Blind controlling his positioning, Marco Rojo looks secure while still bring a street-smart toughness to proceedings - which three yellow cards in nine games attests too. Following his performance against Manchester City, Louis Van Gaal highlighted just how far he’d come by lavishing him with special praise for how quiet he kept Kevin De Bruyne and Jesus Navas.

But as well as his exemplary defensive duties, Rojo has also stunned going forward too. In fact, with United lacking any vitality in attack, his crossing has become on of the most dangerous aspects of their game.

Against Everton he delivered a whipped, pacey cross that Ander Herrera had no choice but to head home, and while his assists have dried up since, his delivery has still been as potent. It’s just vindictive of United’s current form that no-one has actually been there to put them away.

And with Manchester United having so many concerns further up the field, it’s a relief that Marcos Rojo is currently proving that the apprehension following Luke Shaw’s horrendous injury needn’t have been a worry at all.

[Images via Getty/Shaun Botterill]