Aaron Wan-Bissaka Has Been Reborn At Manchester United

In the final seconds of injury-time in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Wednesday night Wilfried Zaha was through on the United goal with a chance to win the game for the south London side, with only Aaron Wan-Bissaka giving chase.

“Any other player [I would have got away from], but I had a little look back and I thought, ‘Oh my god, it’s Aaron!’” Zaha said after the game. “He is the only one who can do the scoop tackle, it was a great tackle.”

As Zaha entered the penalty area, Wan-Bissaka drew level with him and cleared the ball with a last-ditch tackle to protect United’s point and deny Palace a late win.

Zaha knows about Wan-Bissaka’s talent better than most, having played with him for two seasons at Palace where he and his team-mates labelled him ‘The Spider” for always being able to get a leg to the ball.

Even before his game-saving tackle Wan-Bissaka had been United’s best player on a cold night at Selhurst Park. The United defender had contained Palace’s attacks alongside his side of the pitch, and their only goal came from a set-piece.

But Wan-Bissaka’s most impressive contributions came in United’s attacks, which traditionally have never been his strength. He appeared to have been given a licence to roam by his manager Erik ten Hag, as he would often be seen far up the field, and even on occasion in central midfield.

He offered a constant threat to his former team going forward, and in the final third his passing, movement and ball control were almost immaculate.

The game was another triumph for Wan-Bissaka, who has been in exceptional form in the last month and played a major role in United winning four of their five Premier League games to surge to third place in the table, and reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals

Since the resumption of domestic football after the World Cup break Wan-Bissaka has been completely reborn and almost looks like a new player.

This represents a huge turnaround for the player who for the first half of the season had been the club’s forgotten man and appeared to be on his way out of Old Trafford.

Before the World Cup Wan-Bissaka had played just four minutes this season as a late substitute in United’s 2-1 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford back in August.

Since then he had been absent with a back injury, an unused substitute for three games and not even selected in the match day squad on seven occasions.

His rival at right-back Diogo Dalot had completely usurped him and before the World Cup started in 19 out of United’s 20 games in the Premier League and Europa League.

The United manager Erik ten Hag had agreed to sell Wan-Bissaka in the summer but despite some interest from Palace and West Ham the club did not receive a bid.

The United football director John Murtough suggested to Ten Hag he have another look at Wan-Bissaka and possibly give him another chance, but the United manager did not relent and gave him almost no opportunities in the first four months of the season.

It was an open secret Wan-Bissaka was up for sale and it had been expected he would be sold or loaned out in the January transfer window, with Palace remaining interested in bringing him back to south London.

Meanwhile United had begun to scout a succession of right-backs to replace Wan-Bissaka and offer Dalot more competition.

But the last month may have changed everything and convinced Ten Hag he no longer needs to enter the transfer market.

The south Londoner may have convinced Ten Hag he is a player he can now rely upon, and he has a future at Old Trafford after all.

No one was in any doubt about Wan-Bissaka’s defensive qualities, but in the last month he has shown he can evolve and offer more going forward.

This may well have saved his United career.