£40 million, one year left in the contract, Stone Brother: Matteta becomes the focus of Manchester United s summer window

Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City 1-0 to win the FA Cup championship, becoming the first important event champion in Crystal Palace history. It also qualified to participate in the UEFA Cup next season. Manchester United qualified for the UEFA Cup last season. Crystal Palace center Matthatta performed well in this game against Manchester City. After the game, Stone Brother updated the report and stated that Crystal Palace center Matteta was the focus of Manchester United's summer window signings. I didn't verify this report, but when Brother Stone talked about the only goal in the game in this FA Cup final, he did say one thing: "The way Matteta participated in the goal is in line with the fans' views on the No. 9 player."

At that time, Mattha received a long pass from the backcourt at the center position. After controlling the football, he passed the ball to the wing, then turned over and rushed into the penalty area, blocking Manchester City's two central defenders with his body, and Aze obtained the opportunity to shoot at an open position. First, he got the first landing point of a long pass in the backcourt, followed by the vision of the pass, and then the pick-and-roll at the center position. Yes, pick-and-roll is not just a basketball term, soccer requires pick-and-roll, especially when it comes to intensive defense.

Matta's contract with Crystal Palace expires in 2026, which means there is only one year left in the contract period, making it easier for players to transfer in the contract year. This season, Matthat's shooting conversion rate is 18%, which is a very high conversion rate in the Premier League. Average of 5 shots can be completed by 1 goal. Manchester United's Hoylen is 13%, while Manchester United's team has an 8% shooting conversion rate. In other words, Matthat's efficiency is more than twice that of Manchester United's team.

Due to Crystal Palace's tactical reasons, Mattha is actually not a center forward who takes balls very frequently in the frontcourt. After all, Crystal Palace is a team that attacks on both sides, and Aze on the side is one of the players with the most ball rights in Crystal Palace. Matt Tower's role in Crystal Palace is more of a disruption in the frontcourt and striving to control the first place. His failures and top-scoring times are similar to Hoylen, but his successful top-scoring times are more than Hoylen.

In other words, Mattha is the player who takes the first landing point in the frontcourt and then waits for the point in the penalty area. The degree of participation in the offense is against the central defender. During the winter window, there were rumors that Manchester United was interested in taking over Matthew. Now there are rumors again. In early March and early April, media reported that the asking price of Crystal Palace was 40 million pounds, and a player with only one year left in a contract period, isn’t it too high to ask for 40 million pounds? Not clear.

Manchester United now has three center players, namely Hoylen, Zilkze and Chido Obi. The three players are actually young players and have not played for a long time in the five major leagues. Many Manchester United legends have expressed a view: Manchester United needs a mature center to lead these young players. When Van Nie was coaching this season, he also said that he needed an experienced veteran. It was rumored that Manchester United would sign Villebeck.

So, when Manchester United is interested in Drapp, who has a £30 million termination fee, it will be very interesting if Manchester United continues to look for 27-year-old Matteta. It is impossible for Manchester United to win both centers, at most they only consider one, unless Manchester United sells Hoylen and Zilkize in the summer window.

Manchester United's current center reserve situation is actually like this: everyone is optimistic about Zilkize, but from Amorin's tactical system, Zilkize does not meet the tactical requirements, because in the 3421 system, the center position is responsible for the front, and Zilkize's ball control and organization attributes belong to the two front midfielders. Therefore, when Zilkize appeared, he actually occupied two front midfielders, resulting in a shortage of people in the middle.

The reason why Zilkize performed well at Manchester United is because Manchester United's front midfielder lacks such a role. Once Cunya comes, then Zilkize and Cunya's positions overlap. This is why Amorin prefers to use Hoylen as the starter and Zilkize as a substitute to solve the game.

Manchester United's primary goal in the summer window, Drapp, at least the model is close to Hoylen, that is, Manchester United originally planned to stick to the tactics of the center's head, rather than the attributes of the center's retreat organization, which is also in line with Matteta's positioning. For example, the role of Crystal Palace in Manchester City's 1-0 game is very obvious: the center wins the first landing point, passes the ball to the wing, and then the center goes to the penalty area to suppress and grab the point.

Then, no matter what, Zilkize's prospects in the Amorin system are actually not optimistic. Unless Amorin is willing to leave one of the two midfielders for Zilkze, this is also the reason why Amorin lets Hoylen and Zilkze play at the same time when he coached Manchester United.

Judging from the current transfer rumors, Zilkize is very likely to leave the team. Whether Hoylen stays at Manchester United depends on whether Manchester United wins Drapp + Matteta at the same time or only one of the players. From the perspective of Manchester United fans, I think Manchester United should beat Matteta more. Drapp is only 21 years old. Don’t forget what Varane said: "When I was at Real Madrid, I had the guidance of an old senior in front of me. I just came on as a substitute and didn’t have to take responsibility. Manchester United’s young players took responsibility too early, and Manchester United couldn’t share the pressure."

So, can Drapp + Hoylund’s young center combination with resisting the pressure? It should be difficult, and if there is an experienced Matt Tower, then the situation will be much better. Matt Ta, 27, is also a veteran in the Premier League, and has developed a slutty style in mid- and lower-level Premier League teams, which is much better than Manchester United's gentle centers.