Player Focus: Versatile Rojo Proving to be Capable Shaw Stand In

Luke Shaw’s injury sustained in Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to PSV last month came as a huge blow to the club’s hopes of securing Premier League glory. The young left-back started the campaign in tremendous fashion and seemed a shoo-in for a place in the England squad at next summer’s European Championships. However, a broken leg suffered as a result of a Hector Moreno challenge ended Shaw’s season and effectively ruled him out of Euro 2016, a blow for both club and country. 

While England have options to cover for the youngster’s absence, alternatives seemed thin on the ground for United. The obvious stand ins came in the form of Daley Blind, who had excelled at centre-back alongside Chris Smalling earlier in the season, or Marcos Rojo, a player who seemed destined for the Old Trafford exit as part of the deal that saw Anthony Martial move to United. A supposed rift with manager Louis van Gaal looked to have spelt the end for the Argentine and his fleeting time in Manchester. 

In the wake of Shaw’s injury, though, Rojo has proven to be the ideal replacement for his teammate in the starting XI. Although signed as a centre-back last summer, his performances at left-back for Argentina during the 2014 World Cup suggested he would be more than capable of filling in in that position. He again impressed in the role as Argentina progressed to the final of the 2015 Copa America, gaining a WhoScored rating of 7.23 as La Albiceleste fell at the final hurdle to hosts Chile. 

Of course, his participation in the competition, and Argentina’s subsequent progression to the final, meant Rojo was granted an extended period of leave in order to recover ahead of the season. Unfortunately for him, with Shaw and Blind performing above and beyond for United, Rojo’s playing time was understandably limited, that is of course until Shaw’s injury. The 25-year-old has since made three league starts this season, with his WhoScored rating in England’s top tier (7.43) bettered only by Anthony Martial (7.71) of all Manchester United players. 

An indifferent outing against Southampton was to be expected given a lack of match time, but he upped his form in the meetings with Everton and Manchester City, gaining respective ratings of 8.13 and 7.52, registering the assist for Ander Herrera in the former encounter. In last Sunday’s underwhelming 0-0 draw with City, Rojo again impressed, with his seven tackles bettered by no United player in a single Premier League match this season. 

“Rojo played a very good match, not only against De Bruyne but also against Jesus Navas. It is only his third game this season; he has hardly played for 90 minutes. I am very happy that at last he has the condition to play a full match,” Van Gaal said of Rojo, with the Dutchman suitably impressed by the defender’s performance against the Citizens. He had every right to be, with his aforementioned rating bettered only by Phil Jones (7.61) of all United players in the stalemate at Old Trafford. 

The solidity he provides on this side of the pitch helps strengthen a United defence that has shipped just eight league goals this term, no team has conceded fewer in England’s top tier. Meanwhile, he is not one to neglect his offensive responsibilities as his above heatmap shows. Only Shaw (82.5) has averaged more touches per game of all United players this season than Rojo (75), highlighting how influential a role the left-backs play in Van Gaal’s system. 

While Shaw's offensive ability is perhaps of a better level than the Argentine’s, Rojo’s inclination to press forward at any given opportunity helps stretch opposition defenses, providing another offensive outlet for United in the process. This was exhibited best in the passage of play for Herrera’s goal, with Rojo bombing forward before whipping in the stunning cross for the Spaniard’s second league goal of the campaign. 

Van Gaal clearly demands his left-backs press forward and support the offensive, noted in that a majority of United’s attacks in the Premier League this season have come down the left (41%). With one of Memphis Depay or Martial operating on this side of the pitch, and the duo keen on cutting inside, this opens up space on the left to be exploited, initially by Shaw, and now Rojo. The defences’ balance is still unaffected with the Argentina international operating at left-back and he’s clearly a capable performer when he does press forward. 

He will indeed have a tough task on his hands when United make the trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday, but if the versatile defender repeats his Everton and City performances at Selhurst Park; the Eagles won’t get much luck in their quest to attack down the right against an in-form Rojo.

What do you make of Marcos Rojo's performances since coming back into the Manchester United starting XI? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below