The Japanese international made a big impact in the Bundesliga, resulting in interest from top clubs across Europe. In June 2012, Kagawa signed for Manchester United, for what seemed to be a bargain fee at the price of £12 million, potentially £17 million depending on appearances and success.
Formations, Positions & Personnel
Manchester United fans would have imagined a line-up of Kagawa in the “number 10” position, in behind Wayne Rooney, along with Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young on the wings. However, with the arrival of the Premier League Golden Boot winner the previous season, Robin van Persie would partner Rooney up top. The Dutchman’s goals arguably was the difference between the two Manchester clubs, and won United the Premier League. The £24 million signing was also wanted by Mancini’s Manchester City and the Italian believed that United were the favourites to win the league because of the signing.
Jürgen Klopp, Kagawa’s former manager at BVB, expressed his disappointment with Shinji’s game time and positioning at Old Trafford. “Shinji Kagawa is one of the best players in the world and he now plays 20 minutes at Manchester United – on the left wing! My heart breaks. Really, I have tears in my eyes. Central midfield is Shinji’s best role. He’s an offensive midfielder with one of the best noses for goal I ever saw.”
Despite being a natural attacking midfielder, Kagawa saw most of his game time as a winger at United, due to the use of the 4-4-2 formation to accommodate both Rooney and van Persie.
His finest moment in a United shirt was arguably when he became the first Asian player in Premier League history to a score a hat-trick, during United’s 4-0 win against Norwich. At the end of United’s title winning season, Ferguson admitted that Wayne Rooney had submitted a transfer request to leave the club. A potential move for the England forward would have opened up room for Kagawa to become the “number 10” at United, but Rooney made a U-turn with his decision and signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract in Feburary 2014, worth up to £300,000 a week.
Following Sir Alex’s retirement, Kagawa’s positive impact on the team was limited even further under the management of David Moyes during the 2013/14 season. Also with the arrival of Juan Mata from Chelsea, it potentially signalled the end of Kagawa’s time at Old Trafford. However, Mata experienced similar positional problems as Kagawa did, as he was pushed out wide to the right wing, but has arguably adapted to the change of position better, thus being a key player for United in their previous season.
When looking at his stats during his time at United, his 2012/13 season was an average start to his United career, with injuries halting his progress, but looked to improve upon his 6 goals and 5 assists the following season. The 2013/14 season was a disappointment, as he scored no goals, and only gained one assist.
Kagawa only made one appearance under current manager Louis van Gaal, which was in United’s humiliating 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the Capital One Cup, before making his return to Borussia Dortmund and reuniting with Jürgen Klopp. He scored 6 goals and achieved 11 assists last season, showing he’s making progress and getting closer to his original statistics that he achieved during his first spell at the club. There were times last season where Van Gaal experimented with a diamond formation, which would have suited Kagawa’s style and might have given him the opportunity to showcase his skills.
Kagawa was given very few opportunities to play in his actual position. He was given enough time and enough appearances to achieve the level of performance he achieved whilst he was at Dortmund, but it was always going to be a struggle when he was pushed out wide, as opposed to being a focal point of a team.
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