Return To Midfield Pays Off For Michu

Michu was delighted to return to his preferred attacking midfield role on Saturday and scored in the 2-1 win at Newcastle United following a 4-game goalless run.

Apart from his goal against Wigan Athletic - his first match playing in the lone striker role, Michu hasn't scored in the 5 games since being moved into a more advanced position.

It certainly proved to be far more beneficial to him and the team when he returned to play behind a striker. He was far more involved in the game, and was able to have more space and offer much more of a threat after struggling at Southampton last Saturday.

Michu had been in fine goalscoring form, averaging almost a goal a game before manager Michael Laudrup decided to drop Danny Graham and play the Spaniard as a striker. Although the move didn't help Michu, it didn't hinder the team whatsoever as they lost just 1 in 6 following the tactical change.

Michu clearly loves to score and whilst he was happy to return to the central attacking midfield role, he wasn't happy with a 1 in 3 goalscoring rate at St James' Park!

'It is good for me, I'm very happy when I play behind the striker,'

'I think I find more space and we can score more goals.

'I am getting better and better each game.

'If we can play like we did on Saturday we can go up the league.'

'I had three chances and I only scored one — I am not happy with this,' said Michu.

'I had one on my right foot and I'm not happy — I need to work on that.

'I could have had a hat-trick. I will always try to score goals.'

Michu's goal at Newcastle United summed up perfectly what Michael Laudrup spoke about some weeks ago, about players arriving late into the box and being difficult for defenders to mark. The Spaniard arrived into the penalty area with an excellent run to send a diving header past the helpless Krul to open the scoring in a fantastic and deserved 2-1 victory.

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