Adnan Januzaj burst on to the scene in the 2013-14 season for Manchester United, and was one of the brightest sparks for the Reds during a calamitous season under David Moyes. Four goals in 27 league appearances may not seem like anything special, but his individual moments of skill and quality got United fans up on their feet and left them clamouring for more.
The young Belgian started quickly, scoring twice on his first start against Sunderland in October 2013, prompting inevitable comparisons with a young Cristiano Ronaldo. Both were tricky, young wingers just starting out their careers, and the statistics for both men in their first seasons at Old Trafford were remarkably similar, prompting further hype that Januzaj would eventually match the heights that the Portuguese reached.
Enter one Aloysius Maria Paulus van Gaal, now the new United manager. With the Dutchman being renowned for nurturing some of the biggest names in world football (Clarence Seedorf, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, Thomas Müller to name a few), many fans hoped that he would be the man to continue Januzaj’s development and get the best out of the Belgian. Expectations were also increased with the youngster being given the prized #11 shirt previously worn by one Ryan Giggs.
However, things didn’t really work out for the Belgian last season, as he became a bit-part figure under van Gaal in his first season in charge at Old Trafford. Despite making 18 appearances in Premier League, most of those came off the bench as the manager tinkered with the team in order to find the best combination. In all competitions, Januzaj saw 1,035 minutes of playing time, tallying a grand total of 0 goals and 0 assists. He seemed like a completely different player to the one that impressed so many United fans the season before, and struggled to recover the form that saw him break into the United squad. The Belgian also saw the spotlight shine more on his diving than his ability on the ball, with his dive against Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford coming to the forefront.
Despite the poor season with the first team, Januzaj did manage to make more of an impact with the U21 squad. In his eight appearances for the side, he scored five goals and assisted four more, helping them retain the U21 Premier League title. Those displays showed that the young Belgian was a step above the U21 level and still retained the quality required to stake a claim for a regular place in the first team.
Pre-season saw Januzaj being experimented up front by the manager, and he took his opportunity against Barcelona, remaining composed to score a well-taken goal. However, many fans still expected the Belgian to be loaned out to another Premier League club to develop further and gain more first team action. Amidst the rumours and constant speculation, van Gaal denied that Januzaj would be heading out on loan.
United’s visit to Aston Villa on Friday night saw van Gaal surprisingly start Januzaj, days after leaving him out completely for the first game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur. Playing behind Wayne Rooney in the hole, the Belgian broke his 1,169 minute goal drought, latching on to a Juan Mata pass after a well-timed run and finishing via a deflection. He kept his place in the side for Tuesday night’s Champions League play-off first leg against Club Brugge, and once again did well, although he could improve on his passing, having over-hit a number of through balls.
There is no doubting Januzaj’s ability, and on the best of days he can terrorise defenders left, right and centre. I believe that the Belgian will become a world beater in good time, but first he needs to work on a few aspects in order to develop into a player that strikes fear into the hearts and minds of defenders everywhere.
One of the reasons why Januzaj struggled last season was his down to his frail physique and tendency to go down easily. During Moyes’ reign and the early stages of van Gaal’s time at Old Trafford, Januzaj was deployed out wide on the wings and in order to be successful, you need to be physically strong as well as being rapid and technically proficient. The Belgian has the ability and talent to get past his man regularly, but more often or not got knocked off the ball too easily.
In pre-season however, Januzaj came back with a bigger frame. It wasn’t staggering, but it was noticeable. He had taken the decision to train for a part of his holiday, with the Belgian and Luke Shaw taking a member of the backroom staff out to Dubai in order to work on their fitness. Clearly, his determination to work on his fitness during the off-season shows a desire to be the best player he can possibly be.
Another aspect that I think Januzaj needs to work on is nailing down his best position. If the Belgian is to really develop into a top, top player, he needs to figure out whether his future lies on the wings, in the hole, or up front. Being versatile may seem like a good trait, as it may bring a player more game time, but going into his twenties Januzaj risks being pigeonholed as a jack of all trades, master of none. Once he decides on a position, he should concentrate all his efforts on earning a place in the first team by playing well and working hard in training.
That brings me to my final point – consistency. In order to truly become a world beater, Januzaj needs to deliver quality performances week in, week out. Natural ability can only get a player so far. A case in point is Januzaj’s performance against Villa. Despite scoring the winning goal, van Gaal criticised the Belgian for losing the ball too frequently. “I am fairly pleased because of his goal we have won, but there has to be more than only scoring a goal. All the other aspects of football you have to show also,” the Dutchman said.
However, I do believe that consistency comes with more playing time, and with more playing time comes player development. Januzaj was criticised last season for not being the same player that he was under the stewardship of Moyes, but the longest run he had in the squad was three consecutive starts. With the manager looking set to give Januzaj an extended run in the starting lineup, it gives him the opportunity to settle into the side and build some momentum if he performs well. If the Belgian can get going, he will undoubtedly be on his way to becoming a world beater, just like Ronaldo all those years ago.
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