For Manchester United fans, another season of failure has swept the noisy ship at Old Trafford.
Their Champions League hopes ended two weeks ago and now their Europa League aspirations are at stake.
Manager Erik ten Hag remains in the spotlight despite Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over Newcastle United. But the FA Cup still represents the chance to win the title this year.
Al Jazeera looks at the top five problems facing the fallen giants:
In defense of Manchester United injuries
Injuries have meant Manchester United have named 32 defensive line-ups this season – enough to wreak havoc on any football team in the world.
Understandably, Ten Hag did not fail to cite the inability to name an established side as his number one problem. The Dutchman described it as a once-in-a-decade problem, similar to swimming with “your hands tied behind your back.”
It is in defense that United have been hit hardest, with the absence of Lisandro Martinez being the most severe blow. The Argentine World Cup winner has started just nine times this season due to injury, despite starting the campaign as a first-choice defender alongside French international Raphael Varane, who will leave the club in the summer.
When United lost 4–0 to Crystal Palace on 4 May, only 12 senior outfield players were fit to be called up to the squad, of which Jonny Evans was a starter despite not being fully fit.
The search for a European place next season will continue until the last day. pic.twitter.com/riK8JY3o8B
– Premier League (@premierleague) May 15, 2024
Casemiro, Rashford, Hojlund and a case of misfiring cylinders
A player who sums up the unsuccessful season is Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder was very impressive in his first year after arriving from Real Madrid, but the five-time Champions League winner’s downfall was perhaps even greater than that of the club itself.
After the match at Crystal Palace, Casemiro had the second worst record of players dribbled this season: 42.3 percent of the occasions he was attacked.
Despite his problems, which saw him dropped from the Brazilian squad for the Copa América, he is among United’s top 10 starting players this season.
Marcus Rashford, once a proud product of the academy, scored just eight goals in 40 appearances. The burden of leading the team was placed on the shoulders of young Rasmus Hojlund, but the Dane scored just 15 goals in 41 games.
United’s only other senior option to lead the line is Anthony Martial, but the Frenchman’s departure from Old Trafford now appears assured. The striker scored just two goals in 19 matches.
A big positive for United has been the form of captain Bruno Fernandes, who appeared to have ended speculation about his future at the club by promising to stay “until the club doesn’t want him”.
Which players will leave Manchester United?
Unsurprisingly, several names have been linked to his departure from Old Trafford. Some of them are:
- Harry Maguire
- Christian Eriksen
- Sofian Amrabat
- Casemiro
- Antonio Martial
- Rashford
The takeover and lack of transfer news
Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of 25 percent of Manchester United in January followed years of protests against ownership by the Glazier family.
The Americans bought United in 2005 and, until the end of Alex Ferguson’s tenure as manager, it was seen as the start of a dramatic downfall for one of the world’s top clubs.
Buying Ratcliffe gives him significant control of footballing affairs at Old Trafford, but the January deal came too late for the club to make any moves in the mid-season transfer window.
The profit and sustainability rules that Premier League clubs must now balance every year present another challenge.
Casemiro signed a four-year contract with the possibility of extension for another year. The Brazilian’s wages will make his sale difficult, while his value ($81.5 million when signed) has practically disintegrated. His compatriot Antony has struggled throughout his tenure since being signed for $102 million from Hag’s former club Ajax.
Profiting from any of United’s deals in recent years seems impossible as the club’s decline has mirrored that of its players.
Despite the acquisition of Ratcliffe, it seems implausible that the club can make a significant impact in the summer transfer window while respecting the new financial parameters.
How long until Ten Hag is sacked as Manchester United manager?
Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford in July 2022 after a four-year spell in charge of Ajax in the Netherlands. The Dutchman ended a six-year title wait by lifting the EFL Cup last year, but lost a second title three months later in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
With a year left on his current contract, speculation is rife that ten Hag’s time is already up, with only a thrilling win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 26 likely to save him.
Nine home defeats in the league have damaged fans’ pride.
Victory against Newcastle in United’s final home game of the season improved matters, but defeat at Brighton on Sunday could leave the rumor mill with more leaks than Old Trafford’s rickety old roof.
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, however, believes United must stop the managerial merry-go-round.
“The club has been in transition for 12 years,” the former England striker told Sky Sports.
“A lot of players will leave this summer, but they can’t keep changing coaches.”
Who could take over as Manchester United manager?
If ten Hags are fired at the end of the season, it is speculated that there will be three early lead candidates for the management role.
Bayern Munich’s former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is the favorite. The German was criticized for Harry Kane’s withdrawal in last week’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid, while Bayern also lost in their Bundesliga title defense this season. Tuchel won the Champions League in his debut season at Chelsea, and it came as a huge surprise when the Blues folded the following year.
England manager Gareth Southgate’s contract expires at the end of Euro 2024. He and fellow Englishman Graham Potter, another former Chelsea manager, are also considered serious replacements for Ten Hag.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
