Manchester United have made a poor start to the Premier League season, despite winning four out of their opening five games. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was backed over the summer but has failed to kick on after last season’s second-placed finish.
The Norwegian manager oversaw United’s drab defeat to Villarreal in the Europa League final and made sure to strengthen his squad, with Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane, and Cristiano Ronaldo all joining the club in high-profile transfers.
The early optimism surrounding Manchester United has swiftly ebbed and they now find themselves with just 14 points from the first nine Premier League rounds.
Perhaps even more alarming has been United’s poor pressing this season. Opposition teams have found playing against United comfortable, with their disjointed press easily surpassed with simple passing.
📊 — Manchester United rank bottom for both pressures attempted and successful pressures made so far this season in the Premier League #mufc #mujournal
[@DAHughes_] pic.twitter.com/GjN4SIxXmK
— United Journal (@theutdjournal) October 25, 2021
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As the stat above showcases, Manchester United rank bottom in the Premier League in two categories. They are the worst in terms of attempted pressures and successful pressures, which subsequently adds pressure on the side’s midfield and defence.
The players have to be questioned but clearly, this is where the coaching comes into play. Solskjaer has failed to implement a good press and as things stand, it’s his biggest worry.
There’s a Manager just “up the road a wee bit” who managed to turn around the standing of a club dressed in blue rather than green & white stripes. Yes, he was a part of that brutal “never stand alone’ club in red, but those days are long past. Should Stevie fail, it would be no worse than OGS, andhe does have form…just a thought…
The way forward is to change the coach before things get worse. The 4-2-3-1 is a formation which provides no attack and mostly a disadvantage. You can’t expect one forward/striker to be at his best and outdo three or four defenders from the opposite team.