Score, concede, repeat. This largely sums up Manchester United’s season.
Manchester United has recorded a series of bad results in recent years. Ralf Rangnick’s appointment was supposed to rejuvenate the team’s competitive spirit in a ‘managerial bounce.’ It is not the case. But who is to blame?
It’s not Maguire, Cristiano, Ralf’s medieval tactics, or Pastor Fred. Betway betting online statistics point out the clear factors to United’s disheartening performance.
1. The Midfield Conundrum
After eking out yet another disaster class, the Red Devils crashed out of the Champions League. On show was the dismal performance at the heart of the park. The United midfield paradox has been evident since Solskjaer’s reign.
The Norwegian had no go-to midfield options and fumbled about in his tenure at the club. His German opposite number only worsened the situation by switching to a 4-2-2-2 formation. Acclaimed soccer pundits will agree with me that the formation needs a double pivot midfield.
The ideal midfielders you would have there are box-to-box midfielders. United are one midfielder short. Scott McTominay is the anchor, while Pogba and Bruno are the creative minds. Under Ralf’s tactics, it means deploying Pogba on the wing, which doesn’t suit the Frenchman’s playing style.
Also, the double pivot system doesn’t sync with United’s DNA, another snag. The failed midfield causes United to be poor offensively and defensively.
2. United’s DNA
United DNA: This is the innate belief we are special. We can spring back to life when we want to. We apologize to fans with philosophical explanations justifying our loss. We have the GOAT.
Sounds familiar?
United’s DNA is an abstract concept contributing to the Devils’ fall from grace. After every insipid performance, it’s a post mortem or a long post apologizing to the fans. The DNA sprinkled with nonsensical terms such as “comeback FC” and “scary hours” further fuels the staggering decline.
Since the glory days of Sir Alex, no DNA has been so off. United is not special, but retrospectively, they have done special things. It is time to cultivate a new competitive and consistent DNA if any progress is to be made.
3. Defensive Errors (or not)
We haven’t mentioned Maguire, but I am sure the name popped up when we mentioned defensive errors. The Englishman hasn’t been exactly up to par on the defensive facet.
However, United’s defensive problems stem from the front but build to a disheartening crescendo at the back. Gegenpressing, which is Rangnick’s unique identity, hasn’t infused into the player’s mentality. In recent games, fans have blamed Pogba and Ronaldo for poor pressing.
You look at some United games and realize no pressing is better than bad pressing. In the attacking trident, only Bruno presses, leaving spaces the opposition exploits.
The recent mauling by City and Liverpool are clear displays of the lackluster pressing. After his side drew with United, Ralph Hasenhuttl, Southampton’s boss, had the following words: “It is not a big secret that when they lose the ball, the reverse gears are not the best from everybody.”
The result is pressure on Maguire at the back. The captain has been trying to kill David Degea with back passes under pressure for a long time, marking his teammates and scoring spectacular own goals.
A busy David Degea is the only reason United are still in contention for the fourth spot along Betway’s West Ham, Arsenal, and Tottenham.
Ralf needs to understand this: pressing only works when outfield players operate in a system as a unit. I hope United fans will pass this message to him.
4. How to Please Ronaldo?
Building a team around one individual is the most stupid gamble. Ever since resigning Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus, United has suffered from star dependency syndrome. “Pass to Ronaldo and Inshallah” is a common phrase to mean Ronaldo will handle everything.
The 37-year-old talisman recently lit up the Premier League with a hattrick against Tottenham. His re-signing was to inspire the young lads and show them it’s possible.
But when you sign a serial winner, you know you have to win something at the very least. Ronaldo’s abject performances still see him in the starting XI. Ronaldo is no longer lightning quick, and the oldie needs rest.
Rangnick’s set-in-stone philosophy is whatever pleases Ronaldo. Prodigies like Elanga and Sancho, who chalked an assist for the former Bianconerri man, get less game time which doesn’t help United.
How about building a team around the team, Ralf? It sounds basic, but United can’t do the basics.
5. Leadership Problems
Leadership is another nail in the English side’s coffin. Fans cheered Maguire as the captain was substituted for Juan Mata in the face-off against Atletico.
The captain doesn’t control the dressing room, and you would confuse Bruno Fernandes as the captain. Even Ronaldo does a better job marshaling the team, and he’s an out-and-out striker.
Once United has a true leader who leads by example, they would be halfway to solving their problems this season.
Outlook
A series of stupid decisions piling on another stupid decision contributed to United’s downfall. Manchester United is missing a playing style and culture this season. Ralf Rangnick is slowly managing the cultural reset. But they will have to speed up if United are to qualify for next season’s Champions League, which is highly unlikely according to our Betway predictor.
We wish the best for Manchester United and their efforts to regain a spot as a European football powerhouse.
