Manchester United made tactical adjustments beyond the pivotal introduction of Christian Eriksen at half-time in their Champions League win over Copenhagen.
Eriksen came on at half-time for the third match running at Old Trafford as he replaced Sofyan Amrabat with the game goalless.
The 31-year-old drew a superb save from Kamil Grabara early in the second-half and his cross was nodded in by Harry Maguire in the 72nd minute for the only goal.
“He was part of it, definitely,” United manager Erik ten Hag said of Eriksen. “I think our build-up got fluid, more fluid, once he came in. But we made some adjustments in other positions, in other constructions and cooperations.
“But Christain definitely played a big part in that. His timings were good to get free and on the ball his decision-making was good and the best example was the assist for Harry Maguire’s goal.”
Maguire has started three successive matches for the first time under Ten Hag and United have won all three. The 30-year-old scored his first goal for the club since February 2022 to continue his renaissance in the absence of the injured LIsandro Martinez.
The England mainstay seems certain to continue at centre half against Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday and Ten Hag is impressed with his improvement.
“He’s playing much more proactive in possession,” Ten Hag explained, “stepping in, passing vertical, defending also on the front foot, also stepping in, defending forward, very confident in the duels. I think he’s dominating in the right moment, putting the question, dominating his opponents.
“You see he gets rewarded – it’s a very good skill from him, his heading – I have to say a great pass from Christian as well and a very good finish.”
The wins against Brentford and Sheffield United mean United go into the derby only six points behind treble winners City, who play Young Boys in Bern on Wednesday evening.
United were victorious in their home derby last season but they have lost four of their last five against City, conceding 15 goals.
Ten Hag is hopeful United are building momentum with the manner of their recent wins. “You already mentioned the energy but there’s a great spirit, a great fighting spirit, they are together, that’s important, always as a team. The team is more than the sum of individuals.
“So that is what we have to take into the Manchester derby, to be on one page, to fight together and then we have a very good chance to get a good result and to win the game.
“Players are stepping up and getting their markers into the season and they build up the belief. You see it with Harry Maguire, Andre Onana, others with good performances. If we produce that and go from game to game then we can build something.”