Axel Tuanzebe has been talked about in a positive manner among Manchester United fans for a long time. After an impressive loan spell at Aston Villa, many hope that he will be given a real chance in the first team next season. Ole Gunnar Solskjær has publicly talked of his excitement about Tuanzebe returning and maybe the 21-year-old will be given a proper chance to stake a claim for a starting berth. This tactical analysis will look at what Tuanzebe would bring to United and the statistics behind his successful season at Villa.
Background
Axel Tuanzebe was born in DR Congo but moved to England as a child and joined Manchester Uniteds academy at the age of eight. He made his first-team debut under José Mourinho in January 2017 and was given his full debut at Arsenal a few months later when he shone at the right of a back-three. He then went on an injury-plagued loan to Aston Villa in the second half of the 2017/18 season before spending the full season this term at the Midlands club. Tuanzebe has impressed at centre-back for his loan club and has also made a few appearances at right-back.
Tactical analysis: Axel Tuanzebes style of play
Manchester United conceded 54 goals in the Premier League this season. The only club in the top 10 to concede more was West Ham (55). Therefore, it is clear that Ole Gunnar Solskjær needs to shore up the leaky defence. Tuanzebe will not start pre-season as a first-choice centre-back, but he could prove a useful option if he continues his development. Now, lets look at what he would bring.
Superb 1v1 defender
What stands out about Tuanzebes defensive attributes is his 1v1 defending. His speed and strength make him a very difficult defender to get past, and his positioning is usually very good. In the image below, we can see how Tuanzebe is defending a 1v1 against an attacker. His body positioning is superb, with his feet side-on to be able to move in every direction.
As we see below, where he has moved closer to the opponent, he uses his strength to muscle the attacker off the ball. This strength is a very useful tool in English football, with many strikers relying on their physical strength to bully defenders. Tuanzebe will not be bullied, rest assured.
The scene below is a
