After the dismissal Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following a dismal 4-1 defeat at home to relegation-strugglers Watford back in November, Ralph Rangnick was eventually appointed as interim manager until the end of the season. While results have somewhat bettered, they are still far below what is expected of a club the size of Manchester United. Perhaps there is extra expectation considering three huge names in Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane were brought in during the summer, but these acquisitions have not paid their dividends quite yet. Ronaldo has been scoring goals, but the team is lacking unity and it is quite evident on the field. Sancho was only used sparingly during the first half of the season as the re-adaptation to English soccer seems to have been a struggle for the talented winger, while Varane has been impressive when played, however, he has been injured for spells of the season already.
Now is the time to analyze; what are the main problems at Old Trafford this season?
What Are The Main Problems At Manchester United?
Lack Of Depth In Midfield
One of the main problems at United, a problem which has been evident for some time now, is the lack of depth in the midfield. There is no doubt that on their day Scott McTominay and Fred are certainly world-class midfielders, but there is more to the issue. Both have been inconsistent at times and though sometimes it works, neither are capable of playing that ‘holding midfielder’ role. Sure, this can be taken on by Nemanja Matic, a player who in his prime would have been the ideal candidate for that starting berth. However, aged 33 and well past his prime, Matic appears sluggish and slow on the ball and isn’t at the level to play that role week-in-week-out against top opponents. Fans were disappointed in the January transfer window when United neglected to bring in a defensive midfielder, despite Denis Zakaria being available for a nominal fee as his contract was running out. Eventually the player moved to Serie A giants Juventus and even scored on his debut. This is a huge problem for United and might even be what costs them a top 4 place this season.
Ronaldo?
Surely signing one of the best players in the world and a consistent goal scorer can only be seen as a good thing… right? Well, not necessarily. While Ronaldo has been quite impressive for United, and his stats match that, it has to be said that there has been an effect on the rest of the team. For example, last season Bruno Fernandes was United’s main man, scoring almost every game and dictating play. However, this year he seems to be struggling, perhaps since his role has changed from game-changer to ‘supply Cristiano’. Additionally, Ronaldo is a guaranteed starter for every game that he is available, which has certainly had a profound effect on other players who play the same role. Anthony Martial for example was billed to have a big role this season. The player was entrusted with the number 9 shirt ever since Romelu Lukaku’s departure, but with Cristiano coming back, the player had such a peripheral role that he was shipped off to Sevilla on loan. Edinson Cavani is another we can look at. It can be said that the player has a similar effect on the team as Cristiano: experience, goal-scoring ability and leadership. However, with two players in similar roles, Cavani has been deemed less important. As such, the player only averages about one start a month, though it must be said he has been either injured or absent often.
Uncertainty Over Management
Though worries were eased when Rangnick was finally appointed as manager until the end of the season, the underlying worries remain, as a permanent manager will be appointed in the summer. That essentially declares this season a ‘write-off’. A top 4 finish would be seen as a dream for United, where at the beginning of the season they were billed as title contenders. There were no new signings in the last transfer window, as United didn’t want to bring in any players that any incoming manager would deem unsuitable. In that same sense, Donny Van de Beek and Anthony Martial were shipped off on loans without obligation to buy, for the adverse reason, in the case that any incoming manager would desire to keep them in their squad. Until a permanent manager is installed, it seems that the feeling of uncertainty and lack of unity might remain at the club.
Harry Maguire is a poor leader having a poor season, while other big names like Marcus Rashford are yet to step up to the plate and play a leading role in a sub-par year. Having just been knocked out of the F.A. Cup, the Champions League is surely United’s last shot at silverware this season. Otherwise, another year of no trophies will surely be in United’s future.