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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Charlotte Duncker

The moment Ander Herrera showed Manchester United exactly what they will miss

With the minutes ticking down on the Old Trafford clock Ander Herrera ran over to the byline and picked up the ball to hurry along Chelsea's corner taking.

A win for Manchester United was much more important in the race for top four than it was for Chelsea and the midfielder had no love for the time wasting from Maurizio Sarri's side. 

As Martin Atkinson pointed to the corner for a late set piece the Spaniard ran over picked up the ball and placed it down in the corner D much to the delight of the fans.

He was proving a point to Sunday's visitors to Old Trafford and it was a gesture which was welcomed by the home support simply because it showed a desire, passion and determination that has been missing in recent games.

The simple gesture showed he wasn't prepared to give up on the three points and was willing to fight until the end - a stark contrast to what has been seen in recent weeks.

It was Herrera's first start since the 2-0 win against Watford on March 30 and it didn't take long to see what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been missing.

There's plenty to dissect about the defeats against Everton and Manchester City but one of the most galling aspects of those two defeats was the lack of fight and desire from the players. It was marginally better against City but the show at Goodison Park was pathetic.

United's stats are better with Herrera in the squad. In the nine appearances he has made in the league since Solskjaer took over from Jose Mourinho in December United have won eight times and drawn once.

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But, when the 29-year-old departs for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer it's not just going to be his footballing brain he is missed for because in reality they will be able to finder a younger alternative to fill the void left by the Basque.

The bigger issue was touched upon by Solskjaer in his pre-Chelsea press conference when he said he didn't want players coming to the club for the money, instead he wants players with the "right personality." Herrera fits that statement perfectly yet the club are going to let him leave on a free transfer in a couple of weeks.

The commitment of some players has been questioned in recent weeks but never Herrera who embodies just what Solskjaer and the match going fans want in a United player. He's the kind of leader United need in the dressing room in a time where they're sleep walking into the Europa League.

Finding a player to match Herrera's technical ability in the heart of United's midfield may be easy but finding one who 'gets it' in the current climate may prove to be nearly impossible.

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