Manchester United is a club with one of the largest fan bases across the globe, and millions of their fans are experiencing one of the worst seasons in recent history. The club from Old Trafford spent more than €200 million in the summer transfer window, but despite that, it seems there is no light at the end of the tunnel. United’s off-field decisions, ownership changes, and internal team dynamics have shaped the club’s current predicament, and the Red Devils will most likely fail to qualify for any international competition for the next season.
After finishing in a disappointing 8th place in the Premier League last season, the club management was determined to do what it takes to improve the roster on the transfer market. Seeing the competitors spending fortunes on the transfer market, United had to go shopping in hope of finding the missing pieces.
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Among the significant signings, United brought in 18-year-old Leni Yoro from Lille for €62 million, PSG’s defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte for €50 million, and Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich for €45 million. Bologna’s center-forward Joshua Zirkzee was brought in for €42 million, and United paid €15 million for Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich.
These signings should have filled in the gaps from last season, but things didn’t go as planned.
Going into the season, the Premier League football prediction saw United being among the top teams in the league, but the hope turned into a real nightmare for the Red Devils’ fans, and the team has not just lost many points this season but has also lost its identity. There was no connection in the midfield, a lack of efficiency in the offensive line, and no consistency on defense.
Erik ten Hag had a difficult start with United, and his first two seasons at Old Trafford were full of pressure. The team management signed a couple of players the Dutch manager wanted on the team, but that did not put away the struggles. The team lacked aggressiveness on the offensive end and confidence while defending. Ten Hag was fired after United’s 2-1 loss to West Ham that put the Red Devils in 14th place after 9 rounds, the club’s worst start in 35 years.
“We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future,” the club said in a statement.
It seemed like ten Hag was on a hot seat since he joined United and went out as one of the most disappointing managers in the club’s history. United turned to a team legend, Ruud van Nistelrooy, who led them to three wins in four matches after taking over as an interim coach. The unbeaten run revitalized the team and stirred positivity among fans, mainly because of the offensive playing style that once the Red Devils were recognized for.
However, that was only a transition to the next major shake up as the team signed Ruben Amorim as the new manager. He came from Sporting Lisbon after taking the team to a perfect start of the season in the Portuguese Primeira and a couple of impressive wins in the Champions League.
The 39-year-old coach made a name for himself as one of the best young coaches in Europe who is able to turn talent into winning. Even though United is seeking top-class coaching, many saw the coaching changes as a lack of long-term strategy.
The team showed signs of improvement after he took over the charge, but losing three straight games in the Premier League saw the team sinking in the standings.
Of course, taking over a team in the middle of the season and implementing the system with a roster that was given is not an easy task. However, even though the team management is being patient with him, the fans are sick of losing and want results now.
Having a young roster, Amorim had to deal with a lot of egos who were fighting for the leading role both on the pitch and in the locker room. Given that, it is very hard for the Portuguese to find a cohesive unit as he did in Sporting. United lacks leadership on the pitch, and even though the talent is there, the winning recipe for football matches today is still missing.
Ugarte barely played an entire game this season and has yet to score or assist in the Premier League. De Ligt has been more consistent but not as good as he was with Bayern Munich. The real struggles are on the offensive end, as the team barely scores over a goal on average, and no player has scored more than four goals after 20 rounds in the Premier League. The injury of Marcus Rashford makes things even more difficult for Amorim.
The direction where the club will go in the near future will mainly depend on the new owner, Jim Ratcliffe. The 71-year-old billionaire purchased a 25% stake in the club for around $1.3 billion, before investing another $200 million at the beginning of 2024.
Many United fans were not happy with how the Glazer family ran the club, and Ratcliff’s arrival was celebrated. Almost a year since he took over the club, no significant improvement has been made, and there are rumors that the new owner has cut expenses on the personnel, which is not a sign of the right direction.
It is obvious that it is not about the player roster and tactics; United’s problems at the moment go way deeper. They are going into the second part of the season closer to the relegation zone than to a place that leads in the international competitions. However, the road win against Manchester City and the draw against Liverpool give hope to the United fans, and Amorim may find a way to boost the team towards the upper half of the standings.
There is a long way to go for United, and getting on the right track this season is what the new ownership and the manager need to do.
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