How Aaron Wan Bisaka Worked His Way Back Into Erik Den Hag First Team

As Manchester United held on to defeat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final, they had an unsung hero to thank.

If there was a unifying theme to Manchester United's Carabao Cup victory, it was renewal.

Marcus Rashford kept up his scorching scoring pace, Erik ten Hag announced the next phase of his rebuild with a trophy, and United demonstrated once again why they are so optimistic about the future after spending so long mired in the past.

The day's biggest impact belonged to summer acquisition Casemiro, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka's significance after a strong second-half performance cannot be understated.

The biggest compliment is that it actually caught people off guard when he was benched right away, even though by halftime he had made his case for why he should have played from the beginning crystal clear.

The unenviable task of taming the vivacious Allan Saint-Maximin fell to the 25-year-old, who was introduced at halftime with Diogo Dalot on a booking.

Wan-Bissaka was ideal for the job and delighted in the opportunity to annoy the forward by always seeming to have a solution for whatever was thrown at him.

The United defender made the most tackles of any player in the game despite only entering at halftime. Although N'Golo Kanté for Chelsea in 2019 made more successful tackles in a League Cup final, it was over a longer period of time than his seven.

The tenacious right-back was never going to be defeated, despite the fact that Newcastle might have found a way to retake the lead on another day. Saint-Maximin was clearly frustrated with the lack of progress he was making down the left because Wan-Bissaka's defense was so well-organized and prevented him from unlatching even the most stubborn locks.

It was the most recent of the resurrected right-back's a string of strong performances, and it was the most recent step on a path to redemption that has seen him transform from surplus to sublime in less than two months.

Only last October, in what sounded like a jab at Wan-Bissaka, did Ten Hag admit, "United need two good full-backs, because we have a lot of games to come.".

The player had previously been told he could leave before the end of the previous campaign, but because there were no takers, United was stuck with the £50 million former Crystal Palace player.

Before the holiday break, Wan-Bissaka had only played for four minutes, and before being thrown back into the fire, he wasn't even considered a backup at his position.

Prior to the World Cup, Diogo Dalot started all but one of the games. He only did not start at Fulham because of a suspension. Tyrell Malacia was redirected to the right, emphasizing how little Ten Hag believed in his backup.

Prior to last month, Wan-Bissaka appeared destined to depart, but an unexpected opportunity presented itself when Dalot sustained a hamstring injury as Portugal was eliminated from the World Cup.

Wan-Bissaka's return to the United team was met with cautious optimism, but there was little faith that he would be able to maintain this excellent form once Dalot was fit again.

It was a pleasant surprise when he continued to demonstrate signs of growth, not only by excelling as a defensive full-back but also by showcasing another aspect of his game with his assurance on the ball.

This was again apparent on Sunday afternoon, when Wan-Bissaka embraced the chance to advance as the game dragged on and frequently found himself at the center of counterattacks.

Despite the fact that it may not seem like much, the fact that he was so eager to attack and even try his own luck from outside the box demonstrated just how much confidence he has reclaimed since it first appeared as though he would be finished at the club.

There is no longer a good reason to part ways with him this summer, and even if they do, his value will have skyrocketed to the same range of money that was spent on him four years ago.