The week had started for Manchester United with an apology for their disastrous performance in the 1-0 Premier League defeat to Newcastle. And it ended with another mission, this time more realistic, served by captain Bruno Fernandes after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth.
In between was a 2-1 win against Chelsea at Old Trafford, which was lauded in some quarters as the best showing of the season, although there were some gaps – particularly in the victory in front of the back four. advocate for the counter-attack and lack of ruthlessness in the final third.
Relating to: McTominay insists there is no toxicity at United and players back Ten Hag
You want salacious detail? United sorted it out. How about manager Erik ten Hag rowing with striker Anthony Martial in the Newcastle game? Everyone saw this. Reports later emerged that Ten Hag had lost the trust of some of his players, leading to the club banning four media outlets from the pre-Chelsea press conference; a powerful move but rarely a powerful look.
What happened to Marcus Rashford, last season’s hero, who returned to the lost soul zone in 2021-22 and returned to the starting 11? What’s going on with Raphaël Varane, who didn’t kick the ball last month? In fact, it would be quicker to mention United’s big names who are not embroiled in personal melodrama.
Martial was dropped after Newcastle replaced Chelsea, reinstated at Bournemouth, then booed when he was substituted. Old Trafford booed some more at the final whistle. “[I want] “I’m sorry,” Fernandes said. “His performance was unacceptable, starting with me.”
Fernandes, the emblem and magnifying glass of United’s ups and downs, was booked for dissent in the 84th minute when we were 3-0 down and was suspended for Sunday’s game against Liverpool.
It’s certainly been a crazy week, but there’s still a feeling these days that under Ten Hag’s rule, it’s normal for hope and disappointment to be trapped in an endless struggle. The previous week had started with Alejandro Garnacho’s overhead kick in a 3-0 win over Everton, marking Kobbie Mainoo’s remarkable league debut. Martial scored that day and Rashford also scored after Fernandes gave him the ball for a penalty. Then came a 3-3 draw with Galatasaray, which halted United’s progress in the Champions League. Then to Newcastle.
It is well past the point where fans don’t know which United will take to the field, and it is not overstating the point to say that matches could stretch from one period to the next. The club’s Champions League group stage campaign, which will be decided against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, has been marked by a tendency to disintegrate at the first sign of turbulence.
It’s ridiculous to remind ourselves that United were ahead twice, at home against Galatasaray and away against Copenhagen, but lost on both occasions; He said that they were two goals ahead in Galatasaray, but they got a draw. The first time they took the lead was at home against Copenhagen and even then they needed André Onana’s stoppage-time penalty save to keep the score at 1-0.
|
Exposure |
Set |
P. |
G.D. |
Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
one |
Bayern Munich |
|||
|
2 |
FC Copenhagen |
|||
|
3 |
of Galatasaray |
|||
|
4 |
Manchester Utd |
Another statistic that damns them is the one that shows they scored three goals and only got one point away from home. Only Antwerp have conceded more goals in the Champions League this season than United’s 14 goals.
The fact that they have a chance of reaching the last 16, even if they have to do more than just beat Bayern, is completely in keeping with how United conduct their business. The other draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray would also have to end in a draw, which was the only result neither of them wanted at the beginning. In other words, they won’t be playing for it, which definitely reduces the chances of it happening.
Perhaps more characteristically, United actually think they can make it happen, or at least hold up their end of the deal. The Ten Witches were asked what gave them this belief. “The game against Chelsea, the game against Everton, even [away] “The match against Galatasaray,” he replied. “I know that this team can perform at really high levels. We didn’t do this three months ago; We did it last week. I know we can do this when we have the right mood, the right spirit. It starts with the right attitude. “We can achieve this if everyone is ready for it.”
Ten Hag is under huge pressure, and not just because Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to take a 25% stake in United and take control of the sporting side of the operation. Ratcliffe will certainly prioritize an overhaul of the recruitment department; He could still look at Ten Hag’s location.
The violent swings from good to bad to ugly, game management, how his team can be played so easily, etc. continue to throb in the manager’s temples. United fired only occasionally.
But still, Bayern, no stranger to exaggeration and drama, is entering a crisis. Every defeat is treated that way for them, and the humbling 5-1 thrashing at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday matched the bill. Never mind that this was their first defeat of the Bundesliga season. Despite one game in hand, they are four points behind leader Bayer Leverkusen. They lost the German Super Cup. They are out of the DFB-Pokal.
United wonder why they shouldn’t follow Eintracht and beat Bayern. Moreover, Thomas Tuchel’s team has already secured progression to the Champions League by finishing first in their group. Can they gain the necessary advantage at Old Trafford?
On the other hand, a reaction will be required from Bayern and Tuchel could not have been clearer than he expected in his pre-match press conference. “When we wear the Bayern jersey, we behave like champions, otherwise we cannot be champions,” he said. So what to expect? At United, it’s hope that drives them. And it often kills.