On the surface, everything seems to be going quite well for Manchester United.
They advanced to the semi-finals of the Europa League on Monday night, defeating Danish Superliga side FC Copenhagen at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany. The Red Devils also ended their domestic season on a high, beating Leicester City to clinch a top four spot and Champions League qualification.
As a result, the club seems set to make one of the signings of the summer, as they’re linked with Borussia Dortmund winger and English phenom Jadon Sancho. All in all, things are looking good at Old Trafford.
However, that is not exactly the case, as recent results might just be masking some real issues.
Poor performances
United are winning games, but their performances as of late have not been up to par.
Monday’s game is an excellent example of this. It was a surprisingly even affair throughout, as Copenhagen created plenty of chances of their own. If they had some more talent or experience, then they could have won in regulation.
Instead, the contest went into extra time, where the Red Devils went through courtesy of a penalty kick from Bruno Fernandes. It may have been enough this time around, but if they play like this against Sevilla in the semifinals, then they’ll have no chance of making it to the final.
It was a similar story for United during their Premier League campaign. They barely squeaked past Leicester on the final day after another Fernandes penalty, mostly taking advantage of the Foxes inability to finish in front of goal. The only reason everything went down to the last game of the season was because the Red Devils had dropped points in previous contests, drawing to both Southampton and West Ham down the stretch.
Then there was the fact that Leicester had completely bottled things. They seemed set to finish in the top four midway through the season, but the Foxes were absolutely dreadful following the league’s restart in mid June. They lost to the likes of Everton, Bournemouth, and Tottenham Hotspur while also failing to beat Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford. Their slip gave United a chance to sneak into the top four, which they happily took advantage of.
Ultimately, the Man U finished the season in 3rd place with 66 points. Oddly enough, it was the same amount of points the team had last campaign, where they finished in 6th, five points off of the top four. That just goes to show how shocking the rest of the league had been this time around. Sure, the Red Devils still ended up in a good spot, but they just happened to be the best of a bad bunch.
They also got a fair bit of luck along the way. With the aforementioned penalty against Leicester, United broke a Premier League record, as it was their 14th of the campaign, the most in a single season. Those spot-kicks came especially clutch in the last few weeks of the year, as Fernandes was absolutely automatic from 12 yards out to grab some crucial goals.
It was a perfect storm of sorts. However, things don’t always fall into place, and the Red Devils could be in trouble if they have to deal with any stumbling blocks next season. They got away with it this time, but the situation needs to improve if they want any sort of success next time out.
That’s why this upcoming transfer window is vital.
Continuing the rebuild
Signing Sancho would obviously be a massive move, but United still need to make many more transfers.
There are some who believe Sancho is the last missing piece to complete the puzzle at Old Trafford. He’s obviously a superstar, but the Red Devils must realise that there are other holes in the squad that have to be filled before they are genuine contenders again.
First things first, the club has to figure out their goalkeeping situation. David De Gea has struggled this year, while Dean Henderson has become a star on loan at Sheffield United. With Sergio Romero also in the mix, United must soon decide who will stay and who will go.
Then there’s the left back position. Luke Shaw used to be one of the most promising defenders on the planet, but injuries and poor performances have led to him becoming unreliable. Brandon Williams is one for the future, but he’s still only 19, so it’s too soon to depend on him as a starter. Someone new has to come in, and for the right price.
United could also use a new centreback, as there are plenty of questions that need to be answered at the position.
Harry Maguire is decent, but that’s not good enough from the most expensive centreback of all time. Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly have their moments, though they need a better partner to lead them on the field. Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo have unclear futures since they were on loan, while Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe have been blighted by injury issues.
Most importantly, the Red Devils have to buy a proper central defensive midfielder. Fernandes and Paul Pogba have become an excellent pairing in the middle, but they need some support behind them to complete a world class trio.
Nemanja Matic is aging, while Fred and Scott McTominay prefer to venture forward at times instead of staying back. Some fresh blood coming in that just focuses on the defensive side of the ball could be huge, getting even more out of United’s attacking threats.
There’s a rebuild taking place at Old Trafford, and trying to rush it would only hurt the club’s future.
Supporters are starting to get really excited after recent success, but thinking everything is perfect with the Red Devils would be a mistake. There’s still a long way to go, and if United don’t keep improving, then they’ll risk getting left behind by the rest of the Premier League’s elite.