Premier League: Victory at Villa Park

Manchester United traveled to the Midlands of England for a Premier League match at Villa Park earlier today. United were in good form going into this match, thanks to some improved attacking play and the return of some key players from injury. Villa however were trending in the opposite direction after a very hot start to the season under manager Unai Emery. Despite beating Liverpool and Manchester City earlier this year, they have been in stuttering form recently and were at a risk of dropping out of the top-4 with a loss today.

Villa were somewhat better than United in terms of chance creation in the opening 20 minutes or so, but it was United who found themselves ahead 1-0 on 17 minutes through striker Rasmus Højlund. United had won a corner, and it was played aerially into the box by midfielder Bruno Fernandes. The ball was only partially cleared by the Villa back line though, and it was played back into the box from the opposite side by center back Harry Maguire. The ball fell straight to Højlund, who was given far too much space in the box by the Villa defense. He bundled the ball home past Villans keeper Emiliano Martinez, and then wheeled away in celebration. Not the prettiest of goals, but credit to Højlund for showing his striker’s instincts and getting the ball over the line. He has now scored in 5 consecutive matches and is positively on fire right now!

Villa kept up their chance creation throughout the half, but United were defending well and sitting back as they had a goal advantage. I was wary of this approach from manager Erik ten Hag, as inviting pressure on the road against a top-4 side usually does not result in positive outcomes for this squad. However, United were still 1-0 up at halftime and were nevertheless on their way to a massive result.

Villa continued much as they did in the first half – creating chances fairly frequently, but failing to finish them off either due to lack of composure or good defending/keeping from United. During this period of the match, United were limited to counter-attacks and playing hopeful long balls over the top. Villa were rewarded for their pressure on 67 minutes when midfielder Douglas Luiz turned the ball into the net from close range. United keeper Andre Onana had made some brilliant saves from very close just before that, but a failure by the Red Devils to fully clear their lines led to Luiz capitalizing on the Villa pressure. United’s defense is simply not good enough to keep a clean sheet on the road at this time, so it was puzzling why ETH elected to invite so much pressure by having the team sit back. The roar from the Holt End supporters at Villa Park also suggested that Villa would now go on to try and get a winner.

In response, ETH brought on midfielder (forward?) Scott McTominay and took off forward Marcus Rashford, and a collective groan went through the away end. Many thought this was ETH waiving the white flag and playing for a draw, but it was interesting to see McTominay take a spot further up the pitch in attack. United did not regain a strong sense of possession until the 80th minute or so though, and the hour was getting late to find a winner.

However, cometh the hour, cometh the man. Around 85 minutes, United had the ball forward and were probing the Villa penalty area. United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo did well to leave the ball for right back Diogo Dalot to put in a peach of a cross from the right wing, and McTominay out-muscled his marker to get his head on the ball. He redirected the ball goalwards, and the velocity on the header saw it go straight through the arms of Martinez and into the back of the net! 2-1 United, and what a thumping header it was. McTominay was given the opportunity, and he capitalized on it. Somehow, the Scotsman is United’s leading scorer in the Premier League this season with 7 goals. That is more goals this year than his past two combined.

Even though there was 6 minutes of stoppage time, Villa failed to really test United again, aside from a series of long-range efforts that amounted to little more than catching practice for Onana. The final whistle blew, and United had their first away victory over a quality side in nearly three seasons. You could see how much it meant to the players and manager, and a hard-fought win like this can do wonders for team chemistry and the locker room dynamic. United are still in 6th place, but the gap between them and 4th place Tottenham is now down to just six points. With 14 matches left in the season, there is still definitely a lot to play for. Given how crap this team was at the start of the year, it’s a borderline miracle that they are within shouting distance of the Champions League at this stage of the season.

I still don’t agree with the tactic of sitting back and trying to defend a slim lead, especially on the road against a decent side like Villa. United can be effective on the counter-attack to be sure, but why give the other team a chance of getting their footing again? Why concede possession for such long periods of time? Once we score, we should be possessing the ball as best we can in an effort to find another goal. There is still a missing element of ruthlessness in this United team, and that could be a problem in future matches. It’s a better idea to go and kill the game off early, so that the opposition doesn’t get the chance to believe in themselves a bit. I am sure ETH has his reasons for this style of play, and he will correctly point to the result as validation of his choice. Still, we shouldn’t have to consistently rely on a late substitution to get us over the line.

Nevertheless, three points is three points. Well done to the lads. Great games from Højlund, Maguire, Bruno, and Dalot. I can’t complain too much about 4 wins in a row. United next travel south to Luton Town next weekend, for a match with a relegation-threatened club of the same name. Luton will no doubt be in the mood to try and claim a big scalp by beating United, but there is no reason why the Red Devils should not come away with all three points next Sunday.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Manchester United…in Good Form?

First things first, I apologize for falling behind this past month or so. Been very busy in a number of ways and haven’t had time to write. However, there is one advantage in not having written a blog in approximately 26 days. It has afforded me the opportunity to analyze the club’s form over the course of a month, instead of writing and reacting on a match-to-match basis. This has allowed me to see a bigger picture of where the club is overall. A lot has happened!

For the first time all season, the Red Devils are in consistently good form. United have won 3 out of their last 4 matches, with the one off result being a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. Since that draw, United have beaten Newport County in the FA Cup 4-2, then beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 4-3 thriller in the Premier League, and just today beat West Ham at Old Trafford 3-0. They began the month of January in 8th place, but now find themselves in 6th in the table and in the 5th Round of the FA Cup.

Early in the season, we were struggling to both score goals and keep clean sheets. If we won, it was usually a tense 1-0 or 2-1. If we lost, it was usually by multiple goals. However, in the past four matches, manager Erik Ten Hag has clearly figured out the attacking situation. 13 goals in 4 matches is an excellent scoring record. I think a lot of it has to do with striker (and 21st birthday boy today) Rasmus Højlund finally finding some good form. It took him awhile to break his Premier League goose egg this season, but now that he has started scoring, he simply cannot stop. Another aspect of the improved attacking form is the move of winger Alejandro Garnacho out to the right wing, when previously he exclusively played on the left. Garnacho has multiple goals and assists over the past four games, and he has taken to playing on the right wing like a duck to water.

Now if the attack is improving, that usually means the midfield is improving as well. United have been helped in that department by the return of midfielder Casemiro from injury, but the real standout in the middle of the park is teenager Kobbie Mainoo. He is absolutely brilliant and way ahead of where most players are at 18. He can tackle, pass, dribble, shoot, and he reads the game exceedingly well for a player with such little experience. His winner against Wolves in late stoppage time was scintillating! He needs to continue developing physically so that he doesn’t get bullied off the ball as much, but Mainoo is easily one of the most exciting prospects out of the United Youth Academy in ages. If he can learn a thing or two about shithousery and aggressiveness from Casemiro, he’s going to be a terror to deal with.

Now, there are problems still. The scores listed above also indicate that (with the notable exception of today) United are still leaky in defense. A team like United should not be conceding 2 against Newport County and another 3 against Wolves. Conceding 7 goals in 4 matches is a below average defensive record, and there’s no two ways about it. Similar to how the attack and midfield have benefited from players returning from injury, the opposite has happened to the defense. Due to injuries along the back line, ETH has been forced to field 10 different center back pairings this season. And due to keeper Andre Onana being called up for international duty the past couple weeks, there was a different player in goal as well. In a position group where all four/five players need to work together, it’s exceedingly difficult to develop that chemistry and understanding when they can’t play together consistently. I was overjoyed to see center back Lisandro Martinez finally back from long-term injury the past few matches as well, but he unfortunately suffered what appeared to be a gruesome leg injury in the West Ham match today and likely faces another long layoff. He’s had rotten luck recently and his injury was the only sour note in United’s victory today.

United next travel to Birmingham for a match against Aston Villa in the Premier League, where that patchwork back line will again be tested. Villa are in the top-4 currently, and are having one of their best-ever seasons under wily manager Unai Emery. Here’s to hoping that United can continue this positive form and continue to pick up points. Beating a team above them can be huge for the top-4 race, as United are currently on the outside looking in. It is also a chance to improve the team’s away form under ETH, which has easily been his biggest weak spot.

Off the pitch news: I have been deeply concerned for the mental health of winger/forward Marcus Rashford recently. He seems to be struggling with something (based on the numerous news reports of his recent nightclub adventures) and I really hope the club and its staff are helping him with it. Professional athletes are still humans, and they can suffer from mental health challenges like any of us. No one outside the club knows what’s going on for sure so be careful what you read, but he does seem to be on the rebound in recent days. His mental health has to come first, so I hope he continues to improve.

On a lighter note, INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have gotten off to what I would call a satisfactory start as new part-owners of the club. The Glazers have set an admittedly low bar, but the fact that INEOS representatives have sat down and begun talks with the club’s official fan groups about the problems we’ve had for the past 12 years is a big step in the right direction. The Glazers don’t speak to the club’s fan groups and haven’t done so for almost the entirety of their tenure as owners, while Sir Jim and his people have begun holding talks within the first few weeks of buying 25% of the club. Of course, their success as owners must be measured on a long-term scale, but again this is a satisfactory start. The next step of course is for them to actually enact the changes requested.

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

Manchester United: It’s Been Bad, But Is There Light On the Horizon?

It’s been a while since I last wrote, but truthfully there hasn’t been a lot to write about aside from bad news. Since their victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford on December 6, Manchester United have lost to Bournemouth (bad), lost to Bayern Munich (almost as bad), drew with Liverpool away (not too shabby), then lost again to West Ham (bad). I have been calling for the Red Devils to play with consistency this whole season, and they have responded with consistency – consistently being bad. Be careful what you wish for, I guess.

The biggest change at United in recent weeks is the acquisition of 25% of the club’s ownership stake by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company Ineos. This sale has been pending for over a year and many were wondering if it would even happen, but the move was finally announced on Christmas Eve. More on this takeover below.

Things were heading down a losing path yet again today, when they hosted 3rd place Aston Villa at Old Trafford, one of the many fixtures on a busy Boxing Day. The Villans, coached by the ever-capable Frenchman Unai Emery, were up 2-0 by halftime. United looked rather listless as usual, and there was no pattern to their play. Many in the terraces and online were calling for manager Erik ten Hag to be sacked, mostly out of frustration rather than logic. The tactics were unclear, the defense was leaking goals, and there didn’t seem to be any fight in the team. It was shaping up to be another disappointing day, despite the presence of United legends Robin Van Persie and Edwin Van Der Sar in the stands.

But the second half of this match will be one for the memory banks of the United faithful. United were the better team from the resumption of play onward. Winger Alejandro Garnacho had a goal (dubiously) disallowed by VAR on 50 minutes for an alleged offside. He was undeterred by that setback though, and found himself scoring a goal that stood on 57 minutes. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes pressed at the right time and won the ball while Villa were trying to build possession, after which he played a brilliant pass up the left flank onto the run of winger/forward Marcus Rashford. Rashford squared the ball along the ground, and it fell to the feet of the onrushing Garnacho for a relatively simple tap-in back across the face of Emiliano Martinez’s goal. Villa were still up, but the game was very much on! Much better tempo and directness from the Red Devils.

Garnacho wasn’t finished, either. He got United’s equalizer on 71 minutes, and it was the result of another quick-moving and incisive attack. The ball was won in the center circle by midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who then played it out wide to Garnacho on the right wing. Garnacho brought the ball forward a bit more and then played it even further out to the right to Bruno on an overlapping run. Garnacho then moved more towards the center of the pitch, and Bruno pinged in a cross that was deflected into the exact space Garnacho was running towards. He hit it first time from about 12 yards out, and it took a minor deflection off a Villa defender before hitting the back of Martinez’s net! 2-2!

There was still plenty of time for United to find a winner, and that’s precisely what they did on 82 minutes. They had won a corner, with Bruno swinging in the ball from the right wing in the air. The ball took two deflections off of Villa players before falling directly to the feet of striker Rasmus Højlund. Højlund instinctively swung at the ball with his left foot while it was still in the air, and it banged into the back of the net off the inside of the left hand post. A true striker’s goal – predatory in nature. He was in the right place at the right time, and while it wasn’t a pretty finish, he did exactly what he needed to do in the circumstance. Højlund has scored 5 goals in Europe for United this season, but he had yet to open his domestic account before today. What a time to get your first Premier League goal, too! A late winner in front of the Stretford End at Old Trafford. That’s the stuff dreams are made of! You could see how much it meant to Højlund emotionally, too. The young man was in tears while his teammates and the crowd celebrated all around him. It was a huge relief for him, and everyone was incredibly happy for the lad. After an agonizing final 20 minutes and an even more agonizing 9 (nine!) minutes of stoppage time, the whistle blew and United had their first win in close to 3 weeks.

Well done from the front three in the second half today. Rashford looked like the Rashford of last season, Garnacho turned in a Man of the Match performance on the right wing, and Højlund did well to bag his first Prem goal and the winner. Great game from Bruno as well. He didn’t get on the score sheet, but his tenacity and technique played a role in all three goals. Quick and incisive chance-creation is key to the tactics and style of play of ETH, and it was on full display in the second half. The main takeaway though is that the players upped their tempo and desire today. It’s truly amazing what this team can do when they actually try. We have all the talent and skill a manager could ask for, but desire, passion, and determination have been lacking this season. There’s no reason why United can’t win every game they play if they play with the level of energy and belief they had today in the second half. They need to remember that when they play hard, they usually get a favorable result.

It will be interesting to see what United’s new part-owners do going forward. It was a good start to their tenure today, but there’s still plenty to work on going forward. The challenges to be faced are numerous. While it’s unclear what specific tasks are to be handled by Ineos/Ratcliffe, it seems they will primarily be football-related and less finance-related. The squad needs further revamping, the youth academy needs investment, the medical staff are behind on the times, and Old Trafford is in dire need of repairs and improvements. It’s a daunting task ahead of them to get United back to the top of European club football, but they should be given every opportunity and be afforded patience by supporters. Ratcliffe has a history of doing well in sports business, and more importantly he was a Manchester United supporter as a child. That means he understands what this club what means to people at the local level. He sees it as more than just a money-making venture, something the much-hated Glazers seem to be unable to fathom.

Ratcliffe and his team have taken a good first step in writing an open letter to the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), a prominent fan group that has been leading the vocal criticisms of the Glazer family. In that letter, they made it clear that the results from the past 10 years or so are not acceptable and that he is just as “ambitious” as the club’s supporters are. And while the contents of the letter are important, they are of secondary importance to the mere fact that Ineos/Ratcliffe has taken the time to directly address the supporters. Ratcliffe has been part owner for a grand total of 2 days, and he’s already done more to address the concerns of supporters than the Glazers have for the better part of 18 years. All he had to do was write a letter saying “we hear you, and we’re going to try to fix things”. Of course, being a better owner than the Glazers is a low bar to clear, but he is definitely as emotionally invested in the success of the team as he is financially invested. If the club’s fortunes turn around in the next year or two, one would hope that a full sale of the club would be next on the cards. Ratcliffe will likely help improve things,

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out! Happy Boxing Day!

Premier League: A Narrow But Vital Three Points

Manchester United played hosts to Birmingham-based side Aston Villa FC at a rainy Old Trafford earlier today. Manager Erik ten Hag and the Red Devils needed three points to really solidify their place in the top-4, while the Villans were looking to continue their impressive form under manager Unai Emery. The Frenchman has Villa in outstanding form since his appointment. He is a master of tactics and setting up his team to frustrate the opposition as much as possible, and he is aided in that endeavor by a World Cup-winning goalkeeper in Emiliano Martinez. They’re not only good defensively, but they can score too. Villa has scored in every match Emery has been in charge of thus far. He has been a fly in United’s soup many times before, and he would look to do that again today. United once again fielded a makeshift back-4, although given the good form Luke Shaw has been since sliding over to center back, it feels less “makeshift” than it previously has.

The beginning of this match was marred by a protest from United supporters, roughly a thousand of whom marched on Old Trafford before the game started to show their distaste for United’s owners – the Glazer family. They are rumored to be selling the club soon (a separate article is needed for that topic), but they are dragging their feet and it’s unclear if they will indeed sell or not. Fans have wanted the Glazers out for a variety of reasons for the better part of a decade now, and this author stands behind any fan group calling for their removal. Full sale now! Glazers Out!

The first few minutes of the match were a little tepid but United slowly and surely asserted themselves. Most of the forward runs into the attacking third were being made by United. Striker Marcus Rashford fired wide of the post 8 minutes in, but it wouldn’t have counted as he was adjudged to be offside. Rashford then forced a save from Martinez from a tight angle on 11 minutes, with midfielder Marcel Sabitzer firing a difficult shot over the bar on 14 minutes. United were having a lot of success with playing the long ball over the top of the Villa back four and letting the pacey attackers run onto it. However, Villa got their best chance of the half on 19 minutes. A neat passing move saw midfielder Emiliano Buendia play the ball across the face of United keeper David De Gea’s goal, but Villa striker Ollie Watkins had fallen down and the ball bounced off him and away from the goal. However, it fell straight to Villa left back Alex Moreno, who lashed a shot straight at De Gea. It was saved and the danger evaporated, but it was an extremely close call. Watkins was shouting for a penalty as he felt he was pulled down by United right back Diogo Dalot, but it would have been a soft decision to award one.

United’s dominance soon resumed, with midfielder Casemiro striking the crossbar from about 15 yards on 28 minutes. The Red Devils did finally cash in on their chances on 39 minutes. Martinez cleared the ball long, but the aerial header was won by Casemiro in midfield. The long rebound off his head travelled forward in the air, and Rashford was on hand to run onto it. He did well to get into the box and get a shot away, but it was parried away by Martinez. Fortunately, midfielder Bruno Fernandes was on hand to sprint to the rebound and lift it over the sliding Villa defenders and into the net for 1-0! Sometimes in this sport you get a lucky bounce, and you have to take advantage of it when it happens for you. Great composure. More on Bruno below, but at halftime it was 1-0 and the Red Devils were good value for their lead.

The opening 10 minutes of the second half were again somewhat tepid, with both sides not really forging many chances. Rashford came close again on 58 minutes, but he couldn’t quite get to the final ball before Martinez did. Worryingly though, Villa were growing into the game. They struggled with their own final balls and finishing, but they were now consistently putting together the neat passing moves in attack that Emery is known for. There was a penalty shout for United on 73 minutes when Rashford was seemingly pulled down in the box, but the referee waved off protests from the United players. The referee was consistent in his calls today, at least. If the challenge on Watkins in the first half wasn’t a penalty, then neither was this one.

Villa then got another very good chance on 81 minutes after another good passing move led to the United defense being at sixes and sevens. Watkins hit a cutback cross inside the box that found midfielder Douglas Luiz in space about 12 yards from goal, but his first shot was blocked by a United defender. The ball came back to him though, and he struck another shot towards goal that center back Victor Lindelof cleared off the line with his head. The flag eventually went up for offside on Watkins in the build-up, but none of the players would have seen it. Well done to Lindelof for covering, even if the goal likely would have been disallowed had it gone in. Villa came somewhat close again from a corner on 85 minutes, but the glancing header from center back Tyrone Mings was unintentionally cleared away by fellow Villa defender Ezri Konza. Villa had another chance from a free kick in the dying seconds of stoppage time, but they failed to create a shot on target. The final whistle blew and United won 1-0!

This was a tightly contested match and I am proud of the Red Devils for holding onto their lead, which is something they have had issues with this season. Old Trafford is a fortress for United now, and their streak of never losing a Premier League match there once in the lead continued today. United at home are simply a different beast than when on the road, and our form at home is a major part of the reason why the top-4 now looks likely. Massive games from Shaw and Lindelof today. They were both sensational, and it’s a testament to the coaching of ETH and his staff that there hasn’t been much of drop off in quality in central defense after injuries to our regular starters. Shaw is still best at left back, but his emergency pairing with Lindelof in the center of defense has been nothing short of a revelation. Well done to the lads for being the first team to hold Villa scoreless under Emery!

The difference maker for United today and on many other occasions this season was Bruno. Not only is he vital to our attack in terms of playmaking ability, his leadership on and off the pitch is vital to the chemistry of this team. Opposing fans would argue that he spends too much time moaning and complaining to the referee when he doesn’t get a decision, but that is part of his game – passion. This squad rallies around his passion for the game, and he is a key part of the accountability installed by ETH. His tactical system and man-management style only work if the players buy into it, and Bruno clearly has. There is no one better at making sure everyone does their job than Bruno. He was even remonstrating with Casemiro at full time today, and that was after a victory! He is the engine in our team and if center back Harry Maguire is sold this summer (as seems likely), Bruno should be awarded the club captaincy.

United are now solidly in 4th place. They are still 2 points behind Newcastle, but with a game in hand. It would be great to finish 3rd, but most importantly United are now 7 points clear of Liverpool in 5th place, also with a game in hand. As we are near the tail end of the season, the mathematical permutations and clinching scenarios have become clear. If United can secure a minimum of 9 more points (three victories) from their final six matches, they are guaranteed a position in the top-4 and the Champions League next season. Next up is a tricky away match on the south coast against Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday, May 4th.

Glory Glory Man United! Regardless of where we finish, it’s always GLAZERS OUT!

A Good Start in the League Cup

Manchester United hosted Aston Villa today at Old Trafford in the opening fixture for both clubs in the competition known as the League/EFL/Carabao Cup. The tournament changes names all the time, so for the purposes of this post it shall be known as the League Cup. This was a rematch of last week’s fixture at Villa Park in the Premier League, which United lost to Unai Emery and company. Emery always has his team ready to play United, and his sides always give us trouble no matter what. This was the penultimate fixture for United before the winter break and start of the World Cup.

The opening 20 minutes or so were largely forgettable, with neither side really being able to create any dangerous chances. United had the ball in the back of the net around the half hour mark via Bruno Fernandes, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside in the buildup. Villa had a few half-chances as well, although they struggled to get clear shots on goal.

The second half couldn’t have been more different though, as a whopping six goals were scored by both sides in the second 45 minutes. Villa were on the front foot first via striker Ollie Watkins, who put the ball away nicely after Villa won the ball in midfield and ran directly at the United goal. Reserve United keeper Martin Dubravka, on his debut for the club, probably could have made himself a bit bigger to cover his near post and keep out Watkins’s shot. However, the goal probably should have been disallowed for a hand-ball in the buildup. VAR and the refs missed it though, and Villa were ahead 1-0.

The Villans were immediately pegged back however just one minute later when a long ball over the top from United’s defense caught Villa napping, and Bruno was in on goal all by himself with Anthony Martial in support. Villa’s defense couldn’t get back in time, and it was the simplest of square passes from Bruno to Martial, who slotted it home for 1-1. It’s good to see Martial scoring again, but he must remain healthy for United to have the best chance of success in the second half of the season. Wrap him in cellophane and stick him under a heater this winter!

Villa again went ahead on 61 minutes, this time with even more fortune than last time. They had managed to work the ball towards the goal, but a cross was required from a very tight angle to get the ball across the face of Dubravka’s goal. Unfortunately, the pass had a lot of pace on it and Diogo Dalot’s attempted block directed the ball straight into the back of the net from close range. Scoring an own goal is one of the worst feelings in professional sports, but Villa were definitely lucky to see it go in.

The Red Devils were undeterred though, and kept plugging away in attack. They were rewarded 6 minutes later when winger/forward Marcus Rashford slotted the ball home past Villa keeper Robin Olsen. The ball could have easily gotten away from him, but he sorted out his feet just enough to get the shot away. He had missed just wide of the post a few minutes earlier, so he probably felt a sense of great relief once he equalized.

From that point on, it was almost all United. Center back Harry Maguire saw his powerful header from a corner saved off the line, while Bruno had several shots go just wide of the target. United did their go-ahead goal after a poor clearance from Olsen fell straight to substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho. He spotted Bruno in the center of the area and played the ball to him quickly. Bruno got the shot away, and a deflection off Villa center back Tyrone Mings wrong-footed Olsen saw the ball go into the back of the net. Great awareness from Garnacho, and finally United got a bit of luck of their own with Bruno’s finish.

Garnacho only got better as the match went on. The diminutive Argentine went on a lung-busting run down the left wing and almost had a goal of his own, if not for a save from Olsen. He was then instrumental in creating United’s fourth goal on the day when he played a lovely floating cross into the area from the left wing. His pass found the run of midfielder Scott McTominay, who did well to control the pass and stick it in as stoppage time began. United won the match 4-2 and secured their progression to the 4th Round of the League Cup.

Many in England often question the importance of the League Cup, but today manager Erik ten Hag and the players on the pitch were very clearly taking it seriously. I think there was a little bit of extra juice in the legs today too, having been beaten by this side at the weekend. I will never complain about United wanting to win a trophy, but I just worry that the lads expended a lot of effort today and that could negatively affect them later in this long and fixture-filled season. As long as reinforcements arrive in January, this team will do well.

A hearty congratulations to Rashford, Maguire, Luke Shaw, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno, Dalot, Fred, Casemiro, Antony dos Santos, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Garnacho, and Raphael Varane on their call-ups to their respective national teams for the World Cup! Even if England doesn’t do well, I will be sure to cheer for United’s contingent of players. Left back Tyrell Malacia may still be called upon by the Netherlands, who announce their squad tomorrow. Also happy that the rest of the players who were not called up get a month of rest when normally they would be playing.

Just one match left now, an away trip to Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday. We need to finish this first half of the season with three points! Almost more importantly though, I am hoping for no injuries for any player going to the World Cup.

Glory Glory Man United!

Defeat at Villa Park

Manchester United traveled to Villa Park in Birmingham, England on Sunday for a Premier League match with Aston Villa. This was United’s third match in 10 days, while Villa had just appointed new manager Unai Emery after the sacking of Steven Gerrard. United fans all know him of course, having faced him several times in the Europa League while he was manager of Spanish side Villarreal.

United lost the match 3-1, with the only United goal being credited as an own-goal by Villa. The Red Devils were punched in the mouth early going down 2-0 in the opening 20 minutes, although there was hope on the stroke of half-time when Luke Shaw’s deflected effort went in for 2-1. Villa sealed the points early on in the second half though, with a 3rd goal on 49 minutes. United couldn’t fashion any more goals, and the Villans were victorious on the day.

I think there are a few reasons why this particular match was lost, and fortunately they are things that are mostly fixable or otherwise wouldn’t be a factor in other matches. For one, as mentioned already, United were on their 3rd match in 10 days, with a lot of the same players featuring in all three matches. They looked tired, simply put. They were a step behind Villa for most of the match and were routinely second best when it came to 50/50 balls. Now the schedule is part of the problem, but the bigger issue here is that this squad is incredibly thin. We have good starters and maybe 2-3 good rotational substitutes, but we are thin in midfield and up front. A striker is still probably the top concern for manager Erik ten Hag and United’s Director of Sport John Murtough, given that one Cristiano Ronaldo was again significantly off the pace again today and is likely gone in January. But more quality is needed in midfield as well. Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes have had good seasons so far, but they cannot play in every match. We need another ball-carrying box-to-box midfielder, and probably another attacking midfielder as well.

Another reason for this loss is pure unlucky timing. One thing to know about football is that when a new manager comes to a club, the players usually up their game a bit to try and impress him so that they get more playing time. They might play with more aggression and take more risks, for example. It’s called the “new manager bounce” and it’s usually good for a game or two. A new manager is not a for-sure indicator that a team will win it’s next match, but sports bettors will tell you it’s definitely something to consider before placing your wager. It just so happened that United were the ones up against the bounce on Sunday.

But not only did Villa get the new manager bounce, they got possibly the best new manager bounce they could get with the appointment of Emery and the next opponent being United. There is no single European manager that has caused United more problems in recent years tactically than Emery, and he did it again on Sunday aided by players highly motivated to play well. This is the man who beat United on penalties to win the Europa League in 2021 after all, and he did that with a much less talented side. Watch out Premier League, Emery is back and he’s out to burn the whole thing down.

Sunday was truly a perfect storm for a loss. The lads were tired due to a lack of squad depth, the opposition had just appointed a new manager, and the new manager just so happened to be extremely adept at stopping United. Nothing to do about this one except shake it off, get back up off the mat, and carry on.

The next match coincidentally however is also against this tricky Villa side in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup on November 10th, although this time the match is at Old Trafford. It would be quite a shame to go out of the grand old tournament in the 3rd Round, so United will need to regroup and refocus. Perhaps a change in the line-up is required as well.

Just two matches left until the winter break for the World Cup! I will do a “pick the winners” post before the event kicks off, and I also plan on doing a preview of England’s group stage. The Americans will find that interesting as well, as they are in the same group!

Manchester United Secure Qualification to the Knockout Rounds of the Champions League

The Red Devils travelled to the Valencia region of Spain today to take on Villarreal CF at El Madrigal in the second to last match of the Group Stage in this year’s Champions League tournament. If United could manage to win, they would secure passage to the Round of 16 by virtue of being the winners of Group F. A draw would also have helped United significantly, so a loss was the only outcome that desperately needed to be avoided. To make matters even more interesting, today’s match was the first under emergency caretaker manager Michael Carrick. The wisdom of the owners of this club needs to be criticized as to the timing of the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer just two days ago, as it left Carrick in a rather unenviable position of facing a very important match with little time to make his own impact on training sessions and the team.

However, his team selection showed a clear departure from what OGS likely would have done. He started midfielder Donny Van de Beek over Bruno Fernandes, striker Anthony Martial over Marcus Rashford, and winger Jadon Sancho over Mason Greenwood. It was nice to see things shifted around a bit, even if there were a lot of questions about starting Martial. But going up against a skilled tactician like Villarreal manager Unai Emery, we needed a change in personnel. It would give Emery something to think about, at the very least.

Despite the changes, it must be said that Villarreal were the better side for roughly the first 2/3rds of the match. United had a half-chance from an Alex Telles set-piece delivery on about 5 minutes, but that was United’s only chance of the first half. United keeper David De Gea was called into action on several occasions though, making at least 3-4 good to great saves in the game. He has saved United time and time again, and today was no different. United have a good young goalkeeper in Dean Henderson waiting in the wings, but De Gea’s form this season has generally been sensational. When the defense is inconsistent, United can count on De Gea to be a rock between the posts. Judging by his banter with some of the Villarreal players after the saves, you could tell he wanted to win in his native country. It is because of him that United kept the game at 0-0 for so long.

But right around 68-70 minutes, the tide of the match began to turn in United’s favor. Carrick brought on Rashford and Fernandes, and they had an almost instant impact. United were running directly at Villarreal more, and there was less passive movement in midfield with short but ultimately meaningless passes. Cristiano Ronaldo was able to start testing Villarreal keeper Geronimo Rulli, and it was ultimately Mr. Champions League himself that broke the deadlock on 78 minutes. Rulli played a lazy pass out from goal under medium pressure from Ronaldo, but United midfielder Fred had spotted the poor pass and was on it in a flash. The ball came off the Villarreal defender due to the pressure from Fred, and fell directly to a lurking Ronaldo right on the edge of the box. He saw that Rulli was far off his line so he calmly lobbed it over him and into the back of the net. A calamitous error by Rulli and the Villarreal defender, but credit to Fred and Ronaldo for being on hand to punish them. Fred will not get any statistical credit for the goal, but it would not have happened without him pressing. Ronaldo of course must be praised for the finish, as he didn’t even look at the goal before shooting. He has unbelievable instincts when it comes to scoring. As things stood at that point, United were group winners.

Villarreal kept at it though and put United back under pressure again as they became desperate to find an equalizer, and De Gea was indeed forced into a fine save off a low and bouncing shot to preserve United’s lead. It was United who got the next goal though, this time courtesy of a lovely counter-attack and finish by Sancho, who opened his United goal scoring account today. The ball was won by United in their own half thanks to more industry from Fred and Ronaldo, during which Fred found Scott McTominay in a bit of space just to his right. Ronaldo had run forward again on the left wing, and McTominay did well to find him with a ball along the ground. Ronaldo hit the ball first-time directly into the path of the on-rushing Rashford, and he dribbled the ball into the box before cutting back a cross into the feet of Bruno. Bruno seemed to miss hit the ball a little bit, but intentional or not it rolled straight into the path of Sancho. He took a touch from about 15 yards out and lashed the ball with his right foot off the underside of the crossbar and into the goal. It looked like Rulli had most of the goal covered and there was also a defender trying to cut out the angle for a shot, but Sancho beat them both with power and placement. A very solid and crucial first goal for the club. He had been working hard the whole match and had just missed a much easier chance earlier, so I’m glad he got on the score sheet. Hopefully he really gets going now!

Villarreal were beaten at that point, and the final whistle went shortly after the second goal. United were victorious and – somehow – won the group with a match to spare. The club’s form has generally been very poor in this campaign, and today was generally in line with that until the final half hour or so of the match. It was the Ronaldo magic that got us through this group, though. Without his goals and late game heroics, we would not have been able to pull this off. He has scored in all 5 group matches so far, and almost every goal has been a winner or an equalizer. He does not deserve to play in the Europa League, and neither does De Gea. Almost all the other players do, but those two do not. Credit must also be given to Carrick for starting VDB and Sancho, although the Martial start didn’t pan out. I think Martial is mostly done at this club. If John Murtough and Darren Fletcher are smart, they’ll try to offload him in the summer. The skeleton of Juan Mata did more in his 3 minutes on the pitch than Martial did in 60+. Aaron Wan-Bissaka also had a bit of a rough game, as did McTominay aside from his pass in the build-up to the second goal. It wasn’t a perfect match by any means, but United were clinical when Villarreal were not and that was the difference on the night.

Despite the positive result today, there should be no calls for Carrick to become the permanent or even the interim manager. He did well today, but he has no managerial experience. There are some (most notably United legend Paul Scholes) that have openly questioned whether Carrick, Kieran McKenna, and Mike Phelan should all still even be part of the managerial staff given their failings with OGS. My concern is that the famous lack of ambition in the Glazer family will rear it’s ugly head again, and Carrick will be deemed “good enough” until we get to the end of the season. That is a terrible idea for a litany of reasons, most notably because the squad we have right now is good enough to win a trophy or two. Come summer, Paul Pogba is almost guaranteed to leave. So is Jesse Lingard. It’s possible that Ronaldo may also leave, if the poor form continues. There are so many X-factors in play come summer that could all affect what manager we get, so we need to appoint one now.

The constantly-flowing rumor mill right now suggests that Mauricio Pochettino is the front runner for the next permanent manager due to him being unhappy at Paris St. Germain. Pochettino would not be my first choice, but he also would not be my last choice. In all honesty, I just want to see some logical planning and decision making from ownership and the Board of Directors. Figure out who it is you want, go and get him, and get it done quickly. The longer Carrick is in charge, the more likely it is that the indecision at the top levels of the club will only get worse.

Only the small matter of Premier League leaders Chelsea, away in London next Sunday. They are playing extremely well right now, and I am highly concerned about what that well-oiled machine is going to do to us. Sound defensive play will be key, but that is something United has not been known for this season. I would happily accept a draw if it was offered right now. I really am struggling to be positive, because going to Stamford Bridge in the current form we are in and expecting to win borders on the naïve. I’ll be interested to see what happens, nevertheless.

Ronaldo to the Rescue

Manchester United took on Villarreal in the Champions League this evening at Old Trafford for Matchday 2 of the Champions League group stage. The Red Devils have been in positively dismal form recently, and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was under significant pressure to deliver a result today. The loss against West Ham in the League Cup was somewhat understandable, but the loss in the Premier League at the weekend to Aston Villa was inexcusable. There is simply too much talent in this team to be losing 1-0 to effing Villa at Old Trafford. OGS’s tactics have been scrutinized heavily, and not unfairly. Going into this match we looked shaky in defense and clueless in attack. There also didn’t seem to be an established “style” of play in this team recently, as they often don’t appear to be on the same page. Whatever OGS was doing, it was not working. If he didn’t deliver today, the seat under him would begin to warm-up. To make matters worse, OGS was without three first-choice defenders, including left back Luke Shaw (injury), centerback Harry Maguire (injury), and right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka (suspension). Villarreal aren’t pushovers either. This is the team that knocked United out of the Europa League final on penalties in the final last summer. Manager Unai Emery seems to be especially gifted at setting up his team in a way that frustrates more-talented opposition.

And for the first 45 minutes, United looked second best. The Spanish side forged chance after chance, but due to poor finishing and heroics from United keeper David De Gea, they were prevented from going ahead. De Gea made a particularly impressive save in the 10th minute that would have changed the complexion of the match completely off a shot towards his far post from the left side. United were able to fashion the occasional half-chance, but Villarreal always seemed to have a man in the right place at the right time. They were also able to play around the United press with ease. Second-choice right back Diogo Dalot was having a noticeably tough time corralling Arnaut Danjuma, with the Dutch winger helping create chance after chance. I questioned not only the managerial tactics, but also the commitment of the players to go forward and attack.

Despite another fine save from De Gea on winger Yeremi Pino in the closing stages of the first half, Villarreal got their – deserved – breakthrough on 53 minutes through striker Paco Alcacer. Given how things had been going, it was almost to be expected. Villarreal played the ball through midfield with ease on a counter-attack as they had been doing all match. The ball was eventually played through to Danjuma on the left wing, after which he cut diagonally towards goal and played a low cross to Alcacer. Alcacer slid to reach the ball and got the faintest of touches on it and the ball went through the legs of De Gea from close range. De Gea cannot be faulted for the goal though, it was on the team as a whole. The United midfielders were completely out of position when the ball was worked through the middle, and Dalot got skinned for pace by Danjuma for the 3rd or 4th time. Victor Lindelof was also partially at fault for playing Danjuma onside in the build-up. Again, you felt the goal was coming. I almost turned the match off then and there. I’m glad I didn’t of course, but that goal was frustrating because we were being completely outplayed on our own pitch by a team with nowhere near the level of quality we have.

Villarreal made a defensive substitution after that, which indicated that they were now fairly happy to sit back with 10 men behind the ball and defend their 1-0 lead. And why not? United hadn’t tested their keeper much so it seemed like a good strategy for them. United got their equalizer just 7 minutes later though, from Brazilian left back Alex Telles. He opened his United goal-scoring account as a result of a well-worked set piece. A foul was given in favor of United in the right channel, just outside the penalty area. Bruno Fernandes had a word with Telles near the ball before sending him away to the edge of the 18 yard box off to the keeper’s left. Bruno then played a high and looping ball in the direction of Telles, who struck the ball very sweetly on the volley with his left foot from that same position. The ball flew diagonally towards the far post and into the net with keeper Geronimo Rulli beaten. It was a fantastic goal and it’s good for United to be scoring from set pieces again. That being said, the odds of pulling that off are usually very slim. It requires the ball to be struck almost perfectly twice by two different players, with none of the defensive players getting in the way to block it. This one was weird though – the Villarreal players parted like the Red Sea in front of Telles and he hit it superbly well. Telles hadn’t been doing well defensively, so the goal was good for his confidence. At 1-1 it was game on, and Old Trafford was raucous once again.

The game slowed down quite a bit however after that, as for the next half an hour or so both sides labored to consistently string together passes. The referee also suddenly remembered that he had a whistle and set of cards, and he began to use them frequently. Villarreal were committing a lot of professional fouls on United, as it seemed they were beginning to tire and couldn’t cope with United’s energy. Emery had made several changes though, so perhaps the instructions were to sit back and not be as aggressive in midfield. I think Villarreal were content with the result at that point to be honest, and that complacency ultimately was their downfall.

United’s tactics and personnel had changed as well. After the equalizer we were pressing Villarreal a lot more in front of their goal, and they couldn’t seem to figure out how to get around it and get the ball out of their own half. Substitutions made by OGS were key to winning this game as well. Edinson Cavani, Fred, Nemanja Matic, and Jesse Lingard were all brought on as the half progressed so that United could play at a higher tempo. But as the game ticked towards full time, you felt a draw was in the cards and United would be frustrated again. Scarily, Villarreal almost had a winner themselves on 86 minutes after a mad scramble in the box that United eventually managed to clear behind. Credit to De Gea once again for getting himself in the way just enough to make sure the ball didn’t go in. Lingard forced a save out of Rulli on 92 minutes, and that appeared to be just about it for United.

But cometh the hour, cometh the man. On what was virtually the last United attack on goal in the 95th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo somehow found a way to write his name in the headlines once again. Cavani, playing with an industrious work rate, won the ball back high up the pitch and played it to emergency left back Fred. Fred is a midfielder normally but was playing there because Telles was injured. He crossed the ball into the box with one touch towards Ronaldo in the box. Ronaldo headed the ball down into the path of the onrushing Lingard, who took a touch and played it back to Ronaldo on the outside. Rulli had rushed out to try and get Lingard off the ball, but he didn’t get there and then was too slow in getting back. Ronaldo struck the ball towards the far corner of the goal from the right side, and Rulli could only get a weak left hand to it. The ball bounced down off his hand and over the line for 2-1. Myself, Old Trafford, and even the commentators all erupted in celebration. How many times has he done this to an opposing team? This is why OGS left him on, despite a fatigued and fairly ineffective performance up until that point. He is the all-time leader in goals scored in the Champions League for a reason. If you give him the opportunity, he is likely to punish you. His instincts as a goal-scorer and his ability to know where to be and when are second to none. Five goals in five games for Ronaldo, none more important than this one. A winner in the Champions League during Fergie time in front of Sir Alex Ferguson himself (and Usain Bolt, interestingly) is always going to be special.

Everyone should celebrate the three points and late winner, and I hope it galvanizes the team going forward. Our self-belief and confidence should be sky high now. But, tomorrow morning there needs to be an inquest into the first half tactics deployed by OGS. I understand we were down three of our best defenders, but the formation and tactical set-up were all wrong for most of the game, particularly in midfield. Credit where credit is due for the substitutions though. He saw that we needed changes due to the game going from 0-0 to 1-1 in a very short of amount of time. It should be pointed out that subs Cavani, Fred, and Lingard were all involved in the build-up to Ronaldo’s winner. Matic put in a good shift as well, proving that he is still quality as long as he doesn’t have to play any longer than an hour. He has a very calming presence when on the pitch and that was on full display as the second half wore on. Man of the Match has to go to keeper David De Gea though, for the umpteenth time in his United career. Without his saves in the first half we probably don’t come back to win this match. He’s big! He’s brave! He’s Spanish Dave!

United now sit 3rd in Group F, level on points but (3) but behind on a tiebreaker. Both clubs are only 1 point behind group leaders Atalanta with four matches still left to be played. United resume Premier League action on Saturday when they host Everton at Old Trafford, early in the morning America-time. They will want to get back on the winning side of things after the horrendous performance last weekend.

Glory Glory Man United!

Manchester United Lose Out to Villarreal in the Europa League Final on Penalties

I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.

The Red Devils lost out on the chance to win silverware for the first time in 4 years after an epic penalty shootout that saw them lost 11-10. Goalkeeper David De Gea’s tame penalty was saved by Villarreal keeper Geronimo Rulli after the score was 1-1 at the end of regulation and the end of full time.

The match was cagey and sloppy by both sides, but several things went wrong for United that on another day may not have. For one, United were without club captain and center back Harry Maguire, still recovering from an ankle injury. That definitely contributed to Villarreal’s goal, scored from a set piece by Villarreal forward Gerard Moreno. The ball was played in from the left channel and no one bothered to mark Moreno, who scored from close range. It really was poor defending from United, who looked very disorganized on the play. The first half overall was poor for United, as we created very little up front and conceded such a soft goal. Down 1-0 at the half was a familiar position for United though, having won a whopping 31 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season. If any team knew how to make a come back, it was this one.

United did improve in the second half and created a few more chances, and eventually did get an equalizer through Edinson Cavani. This goal was also the result of a set piece, although this time it was a corner. The ball fell to Paul Pogba on the edge of the box, and he lashed a shot along the turf that came back off Rulli directly to Cavani for a tap-in. VAR checked for offside, but the goal stood. I thought after that United would kick on and get another, but Villarreal’s defense held firm and United could not capitalize on their dominance in possession.

Extra time was eventually needed, and United’s second half dominance waned significantly. The players looked tired, as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hadn’t made any substitutions. Villarreal kicked into a gear a little and created a half chance or two of their own, but again there was never any real threat to De Gea’s goal. Penalties would decide.

And what a shootout it was. I don’t think I have ever seen a shootout in a professional match where all 22 men on the pitch had to take one. Not only that, but every single penalty was scored as well, up until De Gea’s low-energy shot. My nerves were absolutely shot at the end and I couldn’t imagine how the players must have been feeling. For those unfamiliar with penalty shootouts, they usually end within the first 5 shots from both teams. It’s rare to go to 6, and even rarer to go beyond that. All 22 men taking a penalty and 21 of them being scored has to be some sort of statistical record.

De Gea was crestfallen at the end and understandably so, but he isn’t the reason we lost this match. Certainly not primarily, at least. No, this match was lost primarily due to the tactics of OGS and a lack of execution from several major players. I said in the match preview that the big players such as Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Cavani, and Pogba would all need to show up, but it was really only Cavani and midfielder Scott McTominay that can hang their heads high today. Bruno was anonymous due to being man-marked out of the game by Villarreal. Rashford had his worst game in a United shirt I’ve ever seen. Pogba was too far back in terms of the position assigned to him, so he couldn’t contribute to the attack.

United beating themselves was the main theme, but not the only theme. The tactics of Villarreal manager Unai Emery were spot-on, and objectively he must be credited for that. They set up two banks of four just on the edge of the penalty box, and they always ensured that someone was following Bruno around and harassing him every time he was on the ball. He likes to play between the midfield line and defensive line, but their lines were so close together there was nowhere for him to receive the ball. The plan was to make Bruno retreat further and further back to get on the ball, and it worked like a charm for the majority of the match.

I think playing Pogba as a defensive midfielder next to McTominay was a mistake as well. Pogba has had success on the left hand side of the attack this season in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where he combines with Luke Shaw and Rashford to give defenses major headaches. I understand the thinking from OGS there, as it allowed him to put Cavani, Rashford, and Mason Greenwood on the pitch at the same time to potentially create a more potent attack. But due to the defensive positioning and discipline of Villarreal, those attackers were cut off from Pogba as he could not venture forward without shirking his defensive duties. He was too far back and Villarreal had too many men in the area.

But I think the biggest error from OGS today were all the issues surrounding substitutions. It was clear that a change of pace was needed around the 75th minute, yet OGS waited over 20 minutes to make a change. Emery had made several changes in the second half and it was clear that Villarreal were the fresher and more energetic side for it. I simply don’t understand what OGS was thinking there. We had dynamic players with pace who could run at more tired defenders in Daniel James and Amad Diallo, and while James was eventually brought on it was again too late to make a difference. I understand the depth of our squad isn’t where it needs to be, but I strongly believe that we have players who could have made a difference today had they been deployed earlier.

Further, the substitutions made by OGS didn’t really make sense to me. It was clear he was playing for penalties once extra time started, and I absolutely hate that strategy. Penalty kicks are a lottery, and a team like United shouldn’t be holding out for them when we have the firepower that we have. Besides, you play to win the fucking game! The most glaring example of this conservative approach was the fact that Rashford was left on the pitch when he should have been off much earlier. He lost possession more times than I can count today, and while I love what he’s done this season it was clear that today was not his day. Taking Greenwood off instead of Rashford was clearly a decision made with penalties in mind, and I think it was the wrong move. Rashford might be a better penalty taker than Greenwood, but at least Greenwood had showed flashes of competency today! He might have been able to combine with one of our pacey wingers to create something, you never know.

Also, lastly, if you are going to hoard your subs and play for penalties, at least put your penalty-saving goalkeeper in the match. De Gea is excellent at stopping shots from open play and distributing the ball, but hadn’t (and still hasn’t) saved a penalty kick since 2016. Dean Henderson was the keeper on the bench today for United, and he has had more success stopping penalties recently. It may not have made a difference, but I think OGS should have doubled down on his penalty-gamble and subbed on Henderson for De Gea. It would have given the Villarreal players something to think about and I think Henderson may have saved at least one of them. De Gea looked somewhat unsure of himself and as a result never really committed to any of his dives. He got near one of their shots but couldn’t keep it out. The point though is that if you want to gamble on penalties, you have to go all-in. You can’t half-ass it and then be mad when the gamble doesn’t pay off.

I do hope OGS has learned from this experience and that he uses it to bring us a trophy next season. I think Emery taught him a lesson today, and it’s a lesson he won’t soon forget. If you set up your team tactically to take risks, but then your players don’t take any risks and you don’t change the game plan, there’s a good chance you can lose a one-off final to less talented competition.

The season did end on a sour note but there is Champions League football to look forward to next season and the promise of challenging again. Going to a European final is progress, but we need to win something, and it needs to be soon. This upcoming summer transfer window will be absolutely crucial.

Premier League Final Day Round-Up, Plus a Preview of the Europa League Final

Going into the final matchday of the season, most of the important questions about how the league would finish up had already been answered. It was clear that Manchester City would be champions, and that Fulham, West Bromwich Albion, and Sheffield United were all to be relegated. Really the only question of any importance that hadn’t been answered was who would take the final two top-4 spots. City and Manchester United had already clinched 1st and 2nd respectively, but Chelsea, Liverpool, and Leicester City were all fighting for the final two Champions League places and all the riches that come with finishing in those two spots.

Liverpool beat Crystal Palace, Chelsea lost to Aston Villa, and Leicester lost to Tottenham despite being two goals ahead at one point. As a result, Liverpool finished 3rd, Chelsea finished 4th, and Leicester were left on the outside looking in. They, along with West Ham, will play in the Europa League next season. Great season for West Ham considering they weren’t really expected to finish so high, but a disappointment for Leicester finishing 5th when they had been in the top-4 for most of the season. They still have the FA Cup to hang their hats on, but to not qualify for the CL is a let down for that club. Arsenal and Everton miss out on European competition all together, which is also a disappointment for clubs of that size.

United took on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineaux in the final match day of the season. Neither side had much to play for, and it showed by the team selection from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Wolves were perhaps a little bit more keen to win though, given that it was the last match of their beloved manager Nuno Espirito Santo. All of United’s regular starters sat out today in anticipation of the Europa League final on Wednesday, but I was indeed impressed with several of our youth players, including but not limited to Anthony Elanga, Amad Diallo, and substitute Hannibal Mejbri. They are young guys but they did very well today against an almost full-strength Wolves side. Elanga opened the scoring (and his United goal scoring account) after a peach of a cross from Daniel James on the left hand side. We conceded an equalizer to Woves via a Nelson Semedo finish from close range, but Juan Mata then converted a penalty after Donny Van de Beek was tripped in the penalty area by a Wolves defender. Some good defensive work from Axel Tuanzebe and Eric Bailly ensured that Wolves did not get another goal. Seeing so many academy products on the pitch today was awesome and the fact that they managed to win is a great sign for the future of the club. OGS understands the importance of this club’s academy and integrating players from there into the first team, as evidenced by the fact that he has given more first team debuts to youth products than any United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson left.

Today was likely the last match in the United red for Mata, who looks to be either headed into retirement or possibly back to his native Spain for one last season. He is an absolutely class player, and he is equally class off the pitch as well. His skills have diminished due to age, but he is an excellent team leader and his presence in the locker room was key for many of the younger players and new signings. You always need players who are good for the locker room, even if their skills are perhaps just not quite good enough for the pace and intensity of the Premier League. I hope he gets a testimonial match in his honor, but if he doesn’t he can retire knowing he is a Premier League winner, Champions League winner, and Euros winner with Spain. There’s a possible club ambassadorship in the offing for him as well. Thank you for your services, Juan Mata!

Overall, 74 points and second place is a big improvement on last season. I am content with it, but not fully satisfied. We need some reinforcements in the summer, but this is the closest we have been to the Premier League title since the departure of Ferguson. A legitimate title challenge next season is the next step for this club.

Only one match left to play now – the Europa League final against Spanish side Villarreal next Wednesday in Gdansk, Poland. I do like United’s chances, but a big worry will be the absence of center back and captain Harry Maguire. OGS said in earlier in the week that Maguire is very unlikely to play, which means that the normal pairing of Victor Lindelof and Maguire will need to be changed. It is either Tuanzebe or Bailly that will fill in for Maguire, and it’s unclear at this time who OGS will select. Both had good games today, and there are pros and cons to selecting either of them. Bailly is more athletic and experienced, but Tuanzebe tends to show up in big games and is very good mentally in terms of concentration and awareness. I could see it going either way, but if it’s me I pick Bailly. He is a former Villarreal player so he probably knows some of the players there still, and he has experience playing against the passing tactics of Spanish sides. He just really needs to concentrate and listen to what Lindelof tells him to do. He must be disciplined and likely cannot go off doing his own thing, which he sometimes tends to do.

Villarreal are managed by the Frenchman Unai Emery, and he is indeed very good at setting up his team(s) tactically when playing against United. He is a former Arsenal manager, and he has previously given United fits when the two squared off in the Premier League in seasons past. Villarreal does not have the star players we have, but never underestimate the ability of an Emery-coached side to play better than the sum of their parts. When you can’t match the individual skill level of the opposition, playing coherently as a team and sticking to your tactics is the best way to still get a result.

I think United are going to need to score, and score multiple goals, in order to win this match. Our defense looks shaky without Maguire, so I am not super optimistic on our chances of keeping a clean sheet. Players like Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, and Edinson Cavani will need to be in good form to break down any stubborn defending from Villarreal. I think Bruno in particular will have a good game. He is hungry for trophies and now that silverware is on the line, I think he is going to take his all-world form to an even higher level. Players like Pogba and Rashford have already helped us win the Europa League once back in 2017, so I expect them to have big games as well.

Next weekend is also the Champions League final featuring Man City and Chelsea, which I anticipate doing a preview/review for as well. It is Europe’s version of the Super Bowl, after all.

Glory glory Man United!