Followers made their predictions at leading bookmakers, using the promotions and price boosts offered to back Man Utd to go one better than last term. Those loyal to the cause were convinced this was their season.
Just a few months later and those hopes and dreams lie in tatters. Man Utd are out of the title race as Man City and Liverpool battle for supremacy. The Red Devils are now involved in a three-way tussle to fill fourth place and the final Champions League qualifying slot behind Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea. The team hit such a poor spell of form that manager Solskjaer was sacked, and star player Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t reached the dizzy heights expected of him since swapping Juventus for a return.
To make matters worse, Man Utd were run down by a ruthless champion in the latest Manchester Derby at the Etihad Stadium. The 4–1 beating suffered in the club’s opening game of March helped suck any remaining enthusiasm out of the support. Where does the club go from here, and what’s needed at Old Trafford to ensure Manchester United are a force in English and European football once again. Let’s take a closer look.
Start with the defence
The four conceded in the Manchester Derby took the tally to 38 goals conceded for the season by the United defence. That leaky backline has cost the team more than once this season with the Red Devils throwing away points from a leading position. Ole spent big on creating a young, energetic and dynamic defence but the former United striker didn’t get value for money from his defence. That was just one of the factors that ended up costing him his job at Old Trafford.
The defence has been poor but the attack hasn’t been too much better. In their first 28 games of the season, United found the net 45 times and that isn’t anywhere near good enough to catapult the club towards challenging for the title. Looking at those two numbers a little closer, we note that United have conceded two more goals than Burnley who are third from bottom of the league and stuck in the relegation zone. To put that into context, the Seagulls could be playing Championship football next season.
The 45 goals scored is 23 fewer than leaders Man City and 26 less than Liverpool. Man Utd have bulged the net fewer times than West Ham United, another club in the running for the top-four. Whoever is in charge of Man Utd for the start of the 2022/23 season knows a complete overhaul is required. There are some great players at the club but it’s looking like Ronaldo is now past his best and too many in the squad have adapted bad habits and lost the winning mentality that once made this great club famous.
Who will be in charge?
The club’s short-term goal is to make it to the top-four and next season’s Champions League but who will be in charge for the first game of next season? The best betting apps are offering odds on the name of Man Utd’s next permanent manager and there are some interesting names in the running, including the cream of the crop around Europe.
The favourite at this stage is former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino who led the Londoners to the final of the Champions League where they were beaten by Liverpool. Others to keep an eye on who feature near the head of the betting include Erik ten Hag, Antonio Conte, current boss Ralf Rangnick, Diego Simeone, and Carlo Ancelotti.
Returning to this season, Man Utd have some crucial matches on the horizon, games they must win if they are to challenge for the top-four. On 12 March they host Spurs, then on 23rd April they head to London where they’ll face Arsenal in what should be a shoot-out for that all-important fourth place.
