Hinata was pivotal in starting at the heart of United’s midfield during a 4-0 victory over Liverpool in December 2024, retaining her position in all but two of the remaining 13 matches in that league season. Her versatility and skill flourished in this new position.
Her exceptional performance in the aforementioned match against Brighton was mirrored in the team’s historic away win against Manchester City just a week prior. With her keen vision for passing, growing resilience in challenges, and tactical intelligence, she quickly became an essential and cherished member of the squad, contributing to their European qualification celebrated in May.
“Transitioning to a different position is common, but the extent of her progress in this role is quite remarkable,” comments Sanders. “The speed of her development, her adaptability to new positions, and her quick learning have been truly impressive. Credit must also go to Marc Skinner for his patience, allowing her the time to adjust and the freedom to find her rhythm within the team. When you have a player like Miyazawa, who possesses such intelligence, it’s clear that she would eventually thrive, and that’s exactly what has transpired.”
A strong partnership with Dominique Janssen has been crucial to Miyazawa’s growth in the midfield. This season, Janssen has moved back to a more traditional center-back position, yet Hini has continued her development alongside Julia Zigiotti, our new summer signing from Bayern Munich.
“I truly enjoy playing with Hini; she’s an exceptional player and very easy to collaborate with,” Zigiotti remarked in a press conference earlier this season, providing insight into her midfield partner. “We don’t need to communicate much verbally; a glance is often enough for us to understand each other completely. It’s genuinely a pleasure to be on the pitch with her.”
Hini echoed this sentiment in a recent conversation, her response about Julia mirroring her teammate’s, highlighting their on-pitch synergy.
“Playing with Julia is incredibly enjoyable,” Miyazawa said with a smile, speaking in Japanese about her teammate. “Though my English isn’t very strong, we understand each other’s intentions through eye contact. I can gauge where she’s positioned, making our play seamless and enjoyable. Our rapport has been growing as we’ve played together, and I believe we are executing our roles effectively in controlling the game for the team.”
The Manchester derby in November marked the first instance this season where United lost with both players starting, occurring during their 13th match together. Their complementary understanding and chemistry have become a prominent feature in Skinner’s squad.
<p“Zigi does the hard work while Hini excels in disrupting the game, hence her being labeled a pendulum for maintaining the rhythm,” the coach explains, highlighting the attributes of his versatile midfielders. “Hini connects the defense with the midfield but also orchestrates play ahead of that while effectively reading the game. Her ability to anticipate allows her to manage transitions much more effectively. They’ve established a fantastic partnership in the midfield.”
