Manchester United lost 1-0 to Southampton on Sunday, but how did returning midfielder Daley Blind fare?
Manchester United had some good news prior to their match against Southampton, with a number of first-team stars returning from injury.
But despite that, Louis van Gaal’s side still fell to a 1-0 defeat after failing to record a shot on target at Old Trafford for the first time since 2009.
One of the players returning to the starting line-up was Daley Blind, who had missed United’s last 10 matches with a knee injury sustained on international duty. And while the Dutchman could not inspire his side to victory, he impressed on his return.
The £14million summer signing from Ajax had a pass accuracy of 81 per cent while he touched the ball 98 times. He also won two tackles, six interceptions, eight duels and four aerial battles.
He played one key pass to set up a goal-scoring chance for a teammate while he had one shot of his own.
| Passing Accuracy | Tackles Won | Key Passes | Interceptions Won | Duels Won | Aerials Won | Touches | Shots | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daley Blind | 81% | 2 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 98 | 1 | 90 |
Some United fans wondered if Blind would feature much on his return given the outstanding form of Michael Carrick since his own return from injury. But the Netherlands international has versatility on his side, and he was able to step calmly and effectively into the left-side of an ever-changing defence.
United will have better days, but in Blind they have a player for all seasons, and one who can become a great for the club in time.
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