Manchester United FC are ready for their clash against Leicester City tomorrow, on the last day of the Premier League season. The match will decide the Red Devils’ future if the club will play Champions League football next season or not. United have come far from their miseries to reach the position they are in now but are they slowly moving back to their old ways?
Since the restart, United are still the only side in the Premier League to have not lost a game. But United’s 19-game unbeaten run was shut out by Chelsea as the Blues dismantled United in the FA Cup. The Red Devils looked tired ad fatigued that game and have shown signs of tiredness even before that game.
The Red Devils have played some of their best football since the restart with Matic, Pogba and Bruno in the midfield. These three including Martial and Greenwood have been superb since football began after a three-month break in June. But since the Aston Villa game, the Red Devils have looked out of sorts somewhat and have needed individual talent to come of crunch situations.
Villa pressed the United back-four from the onset and thus United couldn’t get the rhythm they used to get earlier. They could’ve scored as well, but didn’t capitalize on their chances as United came out better as the half progressed. After pressing the back-four for 30-odd minutes the Villa forwards and midfield wore out and that’s when United capitalized.
The same happened against Southampton as well, from the beginning of the game, the Saints pressed high. The pressing caused a mistake from Pogba, from which the Saints scored first and even then the pressing continued. The goal rang some alarm bells, as United were culprits of playing slow football while creating play from the back.
Pogba, Matic and Bruno haven’t been the same after that particular game, as Matic and Pogba aren’t allowed time on the ball. With no time on the ball and minimal movement in front, Bruno has had to drop deep to collect the ball. He isn’t at his best when he drops deep, as that takes out his attacking threat near the goal.
Also, Luke Shaw’s injury against Southampton hasn’t helped the Red Devils’ cause. Shaw has improved on his attacking prowess and is heavily involved in the build-up from the back. Because of his left-footedness, he can run straight at the opposition and also pass it simultaneously, which isn’t the case with Brandon Williams.
Williams is a right-footed player and has to turn back to his favourite foot to pass the ball. This forces him to pass sideways or backwards, which in turn invites the press. Even Matic hasn’t been at his best since the Southampton game, but Fred and Mctominay have been worse, as seen against Crystal Palace.
Mctominay is not a good passer of the ball like Matic, thus Pogba had to come deep to collect the ball. Pogba had to play as a defensive midfielder that game as neither of Lindelof, Mctominay and Maguire aren’t good passers. Against Chelsea, when Matic was paired with Fred, with a back-three system, United crushed under pressure.
Fred and Matic both are very left-footed players and without any proper ball progresser, the Red Devils succumbed under pressure. Chelsea pressed very high and United didn’t have a way out, and the Blued scored three past an ailing De Gea. Against West Ham also, a host of United players played poorly, including Pogba, Rashford, Bruno and Matic.
The Hammers sat deep and hit United on the counter most the times, which is what teams used to do earlier against United. Surprisingly, United looked fatigued and didn’t have the energy to break down a stubborn West Ham defence. The game ended in a 1-all draw as United need to get a point against Leicester City to get Champions League next season.
The Red Devils need to get a point at least against the Foxes tomorrow, to get a top-four finish. The last month has been very busy for the players and they have to get a result on the final day of the season. Only time will tell if finally, Manchester United get a top-four finish in the Premier League.
