Wout Weghorst reveals what Ten Hag told him before deploying the striker in ‘Fellaini role’ against Barcelona

WOUT WEGHORST has revealed the reason for his deeper playing position against Barcelona in midweek.

He was also moved there during the 2-0 win against Leeds last weekend.

GettyWout Weghorst has been employed in a deeper playing position in the last two games[/caption]

United fans dubbed it the “Fellaini role” in honour of the Belgian midfielder, who was often employed in the same position during his time at Old Trafford.

That was despite Fellaini being known as a central midfielder, while Weghorst is typically more of an out and out striker.

But the towering Dutchman has revealed a very good reason as to why he played in the position against Barcelona.

Weghorst said Erik ten Hag’s special plan was for him to be “annoying” and sit further back in order to break up the play of influential Barca midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Pedri.

He told ESPN, via MEN: “[The midfield] are very important for them to shift the game, my job was to constantly get in their way and be annoying there so that they don’t get into their game and can play the way they like to do.

“And to be able to make my depth actions offensively from the second line, because they are vulnerable in that.

“You saw that in the first half.”

And his Dutch colleague De Jong admitted Weghorst had executed the plan well against him.

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De Jong told ESPN after the 2-2 draw on Thursday: “He [Weghorst] already said it in the tunnel before the game ‘I will get in your way.’ He did a good job.”

While the decision to drop Weghorst further back raised some eyebrows, Ten Hag has always known that he has the potential to play in the position.

The boss told Utd’s website after the Leeds game: “Wout, as a second striker, a no.10. I know him from [his] youth that he can play there.

“With Bruno [Fernandes] on the right and Garnacho on the left, it was a dynamic to change the game and I think we can benefit from it.

“I think Rashford as a striker, Wout on the no.10 position and Bruno on the right brought more composure to our game.”