It was their last big hope. After a season of aimless endeavour and disappointing results, Man United had only to beat Tottenham Hotspurs — a side two places below them in the Premier League table and with a notoriously indifferent record in finals — to claim the Europa League crown and more importantly, the vitally lucrative Champions League qualification spot.
Two months after the disappointment of that Europa League final night in Bilbao, the path for United back to winning ways and financial security is no clearer.
Ruben Amorim will start his first full season at the helm in Old Trafford after taking over from Erik ten Hag last November, and he will be eager to make a fresh start this coming season after seeing his United side finish in a lowly 15th-place just three spots above relegation, the side’s lowest finish in Premier League history, yet even at that, were still unable to beat the Spurs side that finished just one spot above relegation, in that Europa League final.
One would imagine there was a lot of soul-searching at Old Trafford after a season like that. But it’s not like there hasn’t been a lot of analysis at what’s gone wrong over the previous nine years or so already for United.
Inability to change
Let’s be clear, United were broken long before Amorim arrived. But under the Portuguese man the trajectory has nosedived. So, is it a failing with him or his side? Well, Amorim was hired on the back of his successes with former clubs Braga and most notably Sporting Lisbon, where he brought league title wins to the club twice, for the first time in 20 years. That success was based on his sides almost exclusively playing a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formation. Despite these tactics flourishing in Portugal, the players at United have struggled to implement Amorim’s tactics, often finding players out of place or confused to their role on pitch. It seems surprising that high-profile professional players in a side like United should struggle to adopt to any formation but that seemed to be the case last season. Sure, there is always a bedding-in time to any new set-up but not six months.
Manchester United's Casemiro dejected during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester last season.
Manchester United's Casemiro dejected during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester last season.
Some fans demanded Amorim to change his tactics to suit his players’ comfort zone but that seems counterintuitive to the point of bringing in a new manager with new ideas in the first place. A more realistic outlook would be to create a team around him that can play to his formations.
Easier said than done. Last season, United’s midfield looked off the pace and disjointed when moving the ball and setting up attacks.
Midfield mess
Casemiro arrived from Real Madrid with a reputation to be a midfield general, but it never took off and the Brazilian started to look his age and looked a shadow of his former self last season.
Bruno Fernandes has so often been the beating heart of all that remains good with United, but too often he was left looking like a frustrated figure when the system collapsed around him.
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes shows his frustration after the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes shows his frustration after the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Christian Eriksen was brought in as a stop-gap midfielder with the type of experience that could help United, but too often he was relied on to do tasks that were not suitable for a 33-year-old player.
Other midfielders such as Kobbie Mainoo, who had a good first season at United struggled to adapt to Amorim’s system this last season and found himself pushed to the periphery. While Manuel Ugarte, who came with Amorim from Sporting Lisbon, has found the transition to the English game difficult. Then there is Mason Mount, who after a heralded move to the club has gathered a concerning number of long-term injuries in his time at Old Trafford.
Will it require a complete cleanout at midfield? Certainly, with Erikesen leaving and Casemiro et al struggling there seems to be the need for some change up.
Other concerns
But midfield is not the only area of concern. In defence Harry Maguire has battled well and indeed has established himself better under Amorim than with Ten Hag even popping up with some goals. But is Maguire really the future for a revitalised United? Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw you’d imagine would be better suited to Amorim’s high line defensive style but have yet to fully adapt. The signing of the very young Paraguayan left back Diego Leon points to Amorim’s ambition for speedy up-front defenders.
Then there is Andre Onana in goal, who can be good at shot-stopping on occasion but makes too many errors to be regarded as a top club goalie.
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund during the Carabao Cup fourth round match at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund during the Carabao Cup fourth round match at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Up front, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have not reached the grade so far. But to be fair, especially with the very young Hojlund, a lot has been asked of the attack when the service is not been delivered from further back the field. The arrival Matheus Cunha from Wolves, with a proven Premier League record might do better in sourcing goals.
United will be hoping the move from Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha to Old Trafford will pay dividends. Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire.
United will be hoping the move from Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha to Old Trafford will pay dividends. Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire.
The cash
So there’s still a fair few holes to fill for United but without Champions League football, it makes it harder than ever to attract the cream of European talent. And it’s not like United haven’t been spending over recent years. Only Chelsea have spent more than United over the past five years, roughly £650m. With co-owners Jim Ratcliffe and the Glaziers now committed to their recent regimen of cost-cutting it looks like Amorim may have to make do with the bulk squad that lost that Europa League final.