What are the main problems that Manchester United needs to solve

08/10/2024

Manchester United was active during the summer transfer window, and most people were sure this would be a great season for the Red Devils.

Their decision to stick with Erik Ten Hag as their manager for another season came as a surprise to most fans as his second term was a poor one.

However, he has won at least a trophy in his last two seasons, and they could not find a replacement for the Dutchman.

Ten Hag did a brilliant job at Ajax, and his first season in the Premier League was very successful. However, things have been worse since then.

Winning a trophy in each of the last two seasons does not tell a full story and the gaffer knows he needs to do more to show that he is worth keeping.

Manchester United tickets remain one of the best-selling in the Premier League because the Red Devils are traditionally one of the top clubs in the land, thanks to the work Sir Alex Ferguson did.

However, since he left, the club has been plagued by mediocrity, and it has spent a lot of money to address the issues at hand.

Despite spending so much cash and signing some of the best Premier League newcomers with a point to prove this term, they are 14th on the league standings ahead of the October international window.

United has not been playing like the big club that people consider them to be, and their results have reflected that something is wrong at Old Trafford. Will a new manager help?

A new manager changes nothing

United is now widely considered a club that kills good managers and players. Coaches like Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Gaal have all come to the club and failed to win the league title with it.

Since Fergie left, it has become even more impressive to consider that he did so much for so many years at the same club.

The Red Devils are a shadow of themselves now and changing managers have not worked, so it is not the first decision the club’s leadership should make.

Ten Hag was one of the most sought-after managers in Europe when he wanted to leave Ajax. He did a brilliant job at the Dutch club, so there is no doubt that he is a good manager.

United will likely continue the same cycle of hire and fire if they decide to fire the gaffer and pin all the blame on him.

Their fans had wondered if they would make a good start to this season after their poor performance last term and after their summer businesses. The team has been poor and we must admit Ten Hag has a role to play in the poor term.

Ten Hag is a part of the problem.

Ten Hag is a good manager, and we do not think sacking him will automatically change their fortune at the club. However, the Dutchman is a part of the problem.

United has signed almost every player he has asked for and perhaps even more players than other clubs have handed to their managers.

These stars have commanded significant outlays because the Red Devils are a rich club and every agent will look to make the most money from selling a player to them.

However, Ten Hag must take responsibility for the poor form of his signings, with many of them failing to settle since he signed them.

He splashed the cash on Antony and remains happy with the Brazilian, who has clearly been a flop and can no longer make the team.

He seems obsessed with his former players, which is bad, especially when things are not going well.

Ten Hag has also struggled to get the best out of key players like Marcus Rashford, even though he did so in his first season.

A manager who cannot get the best from the players at his disposal and constantly makes an excuse as to why things are bad does not appear to be a good coach.

Ten Hag must get a grip on his squad and bring success back on the pitch, otherwise, no one will complain when he loses his job.

United players look spoilt

As one of the biggest clubs in the world historically, United pays a huge salary, and that seems to have a negative effect on them.

They now have players who make more money than their peers at other Premier League clubs as well as other top European teams.

The Red Devils are now watching players make so much money and do so little on the pitch.

Rashford is a prime example. The attacker is one of the highest-paid footballers in Europe, yet he seems uninterested in some moments during matches.

His goals have dried, and he does not look worried about them because he has watched the club pamper some of its key men for several years despite playing poorly.

When players hear that United is interested in signing them, they are happy, knowing they will likely earn a huge contract just playing for the club.

This should make them feel responsible for ensuring that the team performs well, but United stars look spoilt and it does not seem like they know there is a lot of expectations placed on them.

Players who have failed the club so far

There is no shortage of good players at Manchester United, at least on paper, yet the Red Devils have been poor and have carried on the terrible stats that defined their season in the last campaign.

Ten Hag is working with some of the finest names in European football, but most of them have performed badly and we list the worst culprits here.

Matthijs de Ligt

United has spent a lot of money on defenders over the last few seasons, yet the Red Devils signed De Light in the summer.

He knew he was signed to fix problems at the back and it might be early days, but the former Ajax man does not inspire confidence.

He has been poor and many goals have been conceded by the team because of his positioning or mistake.

Mason Mount

All the top clubs in England wanted to sign Mount when he wanted to leave Chelsea and United won the race for his signature.

Their fans are still waiting to see why they signed him and he will go down as one of the worst signings in their history if things don’t change soon.

Casemiro

His trophy-laden spell at Real Madrid made United fans dream of success when they signed Casemiro and his first season at the club was a fantastic one.

However, the Brazilian has been poor since last term and has directly been involved in the terrible performances the Red Devils have delivered this season.

Antony

The less said about Antony, the better and United will not get a quarter of the value for money from signing this Brazilian attacker.

Rashhford

Rashford has been a hero for the club for much of his career, but in the last two seasons, he has been poor.

He should be one of the leaders in the dressing room, but his on-field performance does not inspire any kind of confidence.

Conclusion

Manchester United has so many problems, but sacking Erik Ten Hag may not solve it and they need to find solutions soon.

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