Erik ten Hag has already ended the long silverware drought that Manchester United had been suffering. With a 2-0 triumph over Newcastle at Wembley in February’s EFL Cup Final, there was finally reason once again to open the trophy cabinet at Old Trafford.
While the Red Devils have improved massively in the Premier League this term, the chance at the title is too far off to be realistic. That’s back-burner stuff for a stronger assault next season.
But this current campaign is far from done and dusted for the Red Devils. Betting sites have them pegged as favourites for further success elsewhere beyond the Premier League. A quick glance at the odds suggests that there is a reasonably realistic chance that Manchester United could end with a treble.
The Yawning Gap Between Silverware
Before the start of this current season, Manchester United had not put a trophy in the cabinet since 2017. That was the year that the Red Devils collected their 6th European trophy, by winning the UEFA League Final against Ajax.
José Mourinho was at the helm then, and the squad featured the likes of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimović. It was goals from Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan that gave United a 2-0 success over the Dutch side in the final.
Love or hate Mourinho, it was a hugely successful season as he guided Manchester United to a double. That season they had already collected the Carabao Cup, beating Southampton 3-2 in a cracking final before earning their European success.
Before pressing on, we have to mention that Manchester United did win the Community Shield in 2016 as well, but we are not including it to boost the returns for that campaign as a ‘treble’ due to that one-off match.
History to Repeat?
With this season’s Carabao Cup in the bag, perhaps it will once again be the catalyst to even more silverware being picked up. The second part of the potential double this season will also be the UEFA Europa League. Just as it was in the 2016/17 season. The Red Devils are the front-runners at the bookmakers to lift the Europa League.
After being edged out to the top spot in their Group Stage campaign by Real Sociedad on a head-to-head tiebreaker, Manchester United went into the playoff knockout round tie against Barcelona.
It was a tremendous heavyweight duel as well, really living up to its high-profile billing as both teams went for the jugular from the off. A 2-2 draw at Camp Nou in the first leg, was followed by a 2-1 home win for United to settle the tie 4-3 on aggregate.
In the following round, Erik ten Hag’s men cruised past more Spanish opposition in the form of Real Betis, United winning 5-1 on aggregate. Their dates with La Liga opposition for this campaign are not done as United will square up to Sevilla in the quarter-finals, a team that United are only D1 L2 against from three previous fixtures.
But overcome that hurdle, then it will only be either fallen Serie A giants Juventus or Sporting between United and a place in the Final on May 31st in Budapest. It certainly looks doable. The bookmakers certainly think so, having placed United in the driving seat.
FA Cup To Add The Gloss
Technically United are fighting on all three domestic fronts. But the Premier League title is unrealistic and the wait to end that drought, which has been going since 2013, will grind on. However, Erik ten Hag does have the chance to improve upon United’s last silverware-winning season, by landing a treble.
United are already through to the FA Cup semi-finals, after their drama-filled quarter-final victory over Fulham. All three of United’s FA Cup wins have been 3–1 results against fellow Premier League opposition (Everton, West Ham, Fulham). More awaits them in the semi-finals as United meet Brighton on April 22nd.
The FA Cup is not a competition for which United are currently running as favourites, as that is big rivals Manchester City who face Championship side Sheffield United in their semi-final. But still, the Red Devils have a one-in-four shot at taking the famous trophy
The thing that could trip up their treble tilt is scheduling. The FA Cup Final is on May 3rd, just three days after the UEFA Europa League Final.
Putting It All In Context
Since their famous 1998/99 Treble Winning Season (Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League) only three times since have United recorded a double-winning season (again keeping one-off matches of the Community Shield and Club World Cup out of the picture).
- 2016/17 FA Cup, UEFA Europa League
- 2008/09 Premier League, FA Cup
- 2007/08 Premier League, UEFA Champions League
All in all, Manchester United have seven matches left to focus on this season in terms of silverware, five in the UEFA Europa League and just two in the FA Cup. A repeat of their 2016/17 double would be huge for the club.
It would be a morale boost, a new proof that they can compete for major trophies on several fronts at once. As United fans have seen since 2017, winning anything has become a lot harder. To land multiple trophies in a single campaign would be an astonishing way to end the drought.
It is a game I love extremely ɡreatly! I play Ьig, I Love іt sooo
mᥙch! I love it! І wouⅼd love tⲟ be moｒe active.
Please, gіｖe me an increase in coins !!!! !
My blog: basic simple bingo patterns