United’s latest slump has come as no surprise
IT’S now much easier to understand why, even in the dressing room, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wasn’t talking up a title challenge when Manchester United were top of the league.
The wonder from some around the club is whether there was an element of self-fulfilling prophecy about that.
United, in more than a few ways, have played themselves into a slog.
The contrast with the leaders, and change from the last Manchester derby, couldn’t be more striking — except for the fact that was also 0-0. Such scorelines have almost become as much of a trend for United as winning has for Manchester City.
It is as if United being top of the league only served as motivation for one of the teams. City have gone into overdrive since then, while United have a mere two wins in the last eight… and so many blanks.
One of the most relevant factors is, of course, simply that Pep Guardiola has displayed his genius. It’s possible, however, that Solskjaer — and thereby his team — are just levelling out.
The Norwegian has broadly done a decent job with United so far, even if much still depends on the outcome of this season. There have been some really good peaks, and he has creditably arrested the times when it looked like it could descend into something ruinous. He has made United a competitive side again.
There are bigger questions from that, though, that a derby against City only put into greater focus.
United should be more than competitive. They are one of the few clubs in the world with the resources to properly challenge their neighbours, in an issue that is becoming an increasing worry for the game as a whole.
Sure, part of City’s record is because they have a manager in Guardiola who can maximise the club’s ample resources, but that’s what the club will do: pay for the best in the world.
Are United doing that? Over two years into Solskjaer’s tenure, we still have no idea how good a manager he really is. It is still impossible to say he is anywhere close to the elite.
Ed Woodward is still largely persisting with this based on his own faith in the man. Is that really the way to bridge the gap?
If there remains an element of the unknown about that, the last few weeks have emphasised weaknesses of Solskjaer’s time that should by now be known.
One is the very problem of streaks. United are probably the worst in the league for this. The way they inevitably go from hugely impressive runs to dismal spells almost feels like it’s becoming illogical now, as much as predictable.
Some of that may be down to how Solskjaer coaches, however, if also the rigours of this situation.
Much has been made of United’s attacking game, and their dependence on star individuals. When those individuals are on form, everything is fine.
The flip side is that it can mean Solskjaer overplays them, which is exactly what has happened. Marcus Rashford has appeared in all 42 games this season, Bruno Fernandes 40. It is why some of the otherwise fair arguments about the hectic calendar only go so far.
Was there really any need to play Fernandes in the second leg against Real Sociedad?
Is it any wonder he and Rashford look so gassed? It makes it even less of a surprise that United have drawn so many blanks. There isn’t the system to fall back on in the manner City do.
There has also been the conservatism of these games against the rest of the top six. It could be said they have directly cost United as regards the size of that gap to City, except it’s impossible not to think that will only widen.
It all means that a team that looked like they had the potential to be title challengers have now levelled out, for what looks a real scrap for the top four.
A defeat against City would suddenly put them in a real pressurised situation. It is one game, funnily enough, they’d gladly take another dull 0-0 in. That is how much things have slipped.
(© The Independent)