This Manchester United article comes from Aayush Dureha.
Manchester United creative midfielder Shinji Kagawa has found it difficult to make it into David Moyes’s starting XI in the first few games. The United manager has given playtime to other wingers – Valencia, Nani and Young, and to other attackers – Welbeck, Van Persie, Rooney and Hernandez, but to the bemusement of a large majority of United fans, Kagawa hasn’t been given an opportunity yet.
The player has publicly expressed his concern towards a lack of minutes on the pitch for his club. After the latest World Cup qualifier for Japan, Kagawa said to the press: “Please ask David Moyes why I’m not in the side. It is frustrating not playing but to score a goal like that gives me confidence. Hopefully I can take that back to my club with me and things will improve.”
The 24 year old Japanese midfielder added: “It’s hard not playing regularly. Some days the frustration is worse than others — it comes in waves. So it’s nice to come back to Japan and get to play, and to score felt good. It’s nice to feel support but I have to do my talking on the pitch,”
Kagawa remains hopeful of being actively involved in United’s upcoming fixtures. “When I get back to my club I have to wait for my chance in the Champions League and the Premier League. I’m sure my chance will come,” said the Japanese midfielder.
David Moyes has been hesitant to field the young playmaker as he was part of Japan’s Conferderations Cup campaign during the summer. Hence, it makes sense to a certain extent to shield the player from getting burnt out in the first few months of the season.
Kagawa can add plenty of steel and character to a United attack that has looked lackluster in the previous two games against Chelsea and Liverpool. Now that Manchester United has the rock-solid presence of Fellaini at the center of the pitch, the attacking midfielders can be expected to perform less of a defensive role.
Manchester United can make the best out of this talented midfielder by playing him as a floating midfielder right behind the sole striker. The challenge for Moyes lies in playing both Rooney and Kagawa simultaneously. Hence, by playing Kagawa, Rooney and Nani as an attacking trio behind Van Persie presents the best option for United to persistently trouble its opponents.
Shinji Kagawa played an extremely vital part during Dortmund’s domestic success till 2012 and United fans will be hoping that he will make a similar impact for the club in years to come.