It appears Manchester United players are frightened to successfully challenge for the League title this 2020/2021 season, following their recent disappointing results, including their home loss to Sheffield and their drab draw against Arsenal.
The Red Devils played out a nil-nil draw with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal on Saturday night, causing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men to slip further behind Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on the Premier League log, who beat Sheffield United 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Manchester United have been impressed with the manner at which they forced their way into the Premier League title race, however, Ole’s men have won only one of their last four league matches and many fans and pundit alike feels the side showed a lack of conviction to take advantage of Arsenal’s weakness and pick up the maximum points at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night.
Arsenal’s desire to win the title this season has been greatly criticized following Saturday’s goalless draw which saw them lose their top spot in the league to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
United’s summer signing Edinson Cavani missed a golden chance in the closing stages of the encounter to slot in the winning goal but the Red Devils looked like they lacked the confidence and belief to defeat an Arsenal team missing key players such as youngster Bukayo Saka, leading scorer and top striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as well as Kieran Tierney.
The result at Emirates Stadium comes on the heels of United’s midweek disappointing loss at Old Trafford to bottom-side Sheffield United, coupled with Manchester City’s Saturday victory other the same Sheffield, leaving the Red Devils three points behind their noisy neighbors, who have an outstanding game which boylesports.com placed odds on.
Ole’s men were unlikely league leaders earlier in the month after recovering from a slow beginning to the campaign and benefitting from other clubs’ above them slipping down the log.
Manchester United legend Roy Keane, after the draw at Arsenal, said he is extremely worried by how the side has reacted to being tagged as Premier League title contenders.
The Former skipper of Manchester United believes the Red Devils will later regret this week’s home loss to bottom-club Sheffield United and the draw with the Gunners come to the end of the campaign.
Roy Keane told Sky Sports, “They almost lacked the belief they could go and win the game …. It’s Manchester United, you’re looking at Arsenal who is missing a few players, the game was there for the taking. Overall their performance lacked that intensity and a real lack of conviction and desire to go and take the game to Arsenal” he concluded.
Premier League legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher also said the Red Devils are missing a “fantastic chance” in the race for the Premier League.
Carragher also said, despite the results looking good on paper – drawing Liverpool at Anfield and the Gunners at Emirates – the Red Devils are not showing the required attitude to win the League this term.
Regardless of whether Ole’s team can win the Premier League the 14th time this season or not, their massive progress over the last year cannot be overlooked. At this same stage last season, they were sixth on the log with 24 points adrift Liverpool.
Moving ahead of Liverpool at the stage of the season, therefore, represents a major step in the right direction.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login