First, the good news: Manchester United The crest of the wave has begun. A run of 11 wins from 12 games has lifted Erik ten Haag’s men to fourth place. Premier League Table, set the Carabao Cup semi-final meeting Nottingham Forestand reading To come in the fourth round The FA Cup.
Said run has included favorable opposition, but in this run of victories the team has played closer to the fan-preferred “ideal” United. There is a great pace to the attack as well as a sense of defensive tenacity. won Fulham The Academy came from a last-minute winner from The Graduate Alejandro Garnacho Through a moment of clever wing play. They are on their longest winning run since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer began his interim tenure in January 2019, and are the only English club still featuring in four competitions.
Ten Hague looks like a fixed fare and is seen as a competent football team that looks like an obscure and downtrodden collective. Marcus Rashford One of the in-form attackers in the country and critics have stopped writing about it Lisandro MartinezHe has amazing height when defensive.
Almost every interview with a United player features a section where they talk about the improved discipline and collective team spirit brought about by their manager, and Ten Haag himself talks about the high standards and rules that progress can be maintained. Many observers had United as outside contenders for a top four spot before the start of the season. Still, in early January, the analysis website Five thirty eight Gives United a 59 per cent chance of qualifying Champions League – The third-highest probability after Arsenal and Manchester City.
That’s good news. On-surface things and the atmosphere at Manchester United are positive for now.
Now bubbles under the surface, for not much good.
This starts with the club’s precarious financial situation, where a series of creditors need to be paid off before future projects can match Ten Haag’s ambitions. The manager wants a new striker for his team, however More than £300 million ($365m) remains in transfer installments to other clubs And the Glazer’s ownership is reluctant to green light another big payment to get the player they want. The proposed redevelopment of Old Trafford is believed to have stalled, however Statement of Joint Owners dated November 2022 “Consider all strategic options, including new investment in the club, sale, or other transactions involving the company”.
There is a gap between Ten Hag’s wants and his needs, which means the wave United fans are currently riding is at risk of crashing. By the manager’s own admission, Anthony Marshall Can’t cope with the physical strain of playing three 90-minute games in one week – at a time when his club are scheduled to play 12 games (including the Manchester derby) between now and the end of February. Despite Martial’s (relative) lack of goals and limited minutes this season, he remains close to irreplaceable within the United set-up, with a style of play that would be difficult to replicate without shopping around in the transfer market. Wout Weghorst Joining on a short-term loan but the side still lack the 20-goal-a-season figurehead that their rivals have.
In-form Marcus Rashford scores twice in Man United’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Charlton (Photo: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
A midfield pivot of Christian Erickson and Casemiro “McFred” (Scott McTominay and Fred) past partnership, but both men will be subject to a more aggressive pressing system against Arsenal, Manchester City and. Barcelona In the coming weeks.
United remain a work in progress, slowly adapting to the style of play. Their manager will have to juggle a lot of plates on and off the field, and there are questions about whether his side will be ready to run so quickly when they go forward again.
This brings us to a thought-provoking question: Is there value in defeating one of their competing objectives, so that they can redirect energy to something else?
The last time United “tanked” was in the 2016-17 season, when Jose Mourinho made winning a priority. Europa League (and subsequent Champions League qualification) chasing a top four finish in the league. United went on a five-game winless run in the Premier League from the end of April until the last game of the season but reached the Europa League final, eventually beating Ajax to win the club’s latest piece of silverware.
There were nervy moments, such as a last-minute chance for John Guidetti that saw off Celta Vigo A narrow semi-final win, but history marks Mourinho’s gamble as more successful than the 2019-20 season, when United finished third in the league and lost three cup semi-finals. Tanking can work for Manchester United, as long as you win trophies, you prioritize. A sixth-place finish in the 2016-17 Premier League has faded from memory.
Ten Haag himself has given little indication as manager of skipping cup competitions to focus on league performances. The 52-year-old replied: “We want to win every game” when asked about his Europa League goals in the group stages and has spent much of his time at the FA. League Cup Admiring the format of each competition. Winning leads to more winning, and this promising run of form has enabled Ten Hag to earn goodwill and buy-in from the players and fanbase.
By trying to do everything now, he is building a team that is well-equipped to win many things in the future. A Europa League play-off tie with Barcelona means progress in the continental competition is tougher than games against Reading and Nottingham Forest, but United will have to get used to losing if they are to win any silverware next season. The opposition is the most challenging.
Champions League qualification and other glories will be the ultimate goal for this group of players, but it cannot be achieved alone against “defeatable” sides. Prioritizing your goals to minimize potential risks and maximize returns has merit, but risks limiting the amount of prizes you can win down the line.
(Top photo: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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