And then there were none (left). After a season that had all the emotions- hope, excitement, delirium, pain, agony, and, at the end, relief, Manchester United end their Premier League season with a fixture at home to Fulham.
Marco Silva’s men have overachieved this season, sitting comfortably at 10th. United have also achieved their season objective, sealing a top-four place with the 4-1 win against Chelsea. Therefore, this game doesn’t have many stakes attached to it.
However, there are still a few things to look forward to, especially with a marquee FA Cup final against Manchester City on the horizon soon after:
How much rotation is too much rotation?
Fulham can’t climb higher than 10th, and it doesn’t matter if United finishes 3rd or 4th in the grand scheme of things. Combine that with this fixture coming less than three days after the Chelsea game, with the FA Cup final to come, rotation is to be expected here.
The mind goes back to Jose Mourinho’s season in charge where he effectively sent out an U23s team in the PL’s final game against Crystal Palace in 2016/17 with the Europa League Final coming up.
Obviously, Erik ten Hag has shown that he isn’t one to rotate needlessly, insisting on players learning each other’s tendencies by spending time on the field. However, this is one game where that shouldn’t be the case.
Fred, Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, Wout Weghorst, and even youngsters like Facundo Pellistri should be given the chance to impress in this fixture. The magnitude and importance of this game compared to the FA Cup final isn’t even up for debate. The team selection should reflect that.
Jadon Sancho finds his position
It was only Chelsea, who looked like they had already given up, but Jadon Sancho’s performance after switching to the right wing against The Blues will give United fans and Erik ten Hag plenty of encouragement.
Antony’s injury is serious, which means the right side of the attack is up for grabs. With Erik ten Hag not particularly trusting of Facundo Pellistri, and Bruno Fernandes wasted out wide, Sancho’s performance couldn’t have come at a better time.
While Erik ten Hag was quick to stress that Sancho prefers playing off the left, his right-footed presence on the right gives the team a unique outlet to Antony, who would predictably cut inside on his stronger left.
Sancho’s campaign was faltering, but sometimes a small change can unlock the potential of the player. Fans will hope the Chelsea game was the start of something exciting.
Luke Shaw injury watch
Luke Shaw was substituted at half-time during the Chelsea game due to a back injury. At his best, he is United’s undisputed starter at left-back, and the third-choice CB too.
It is not a stretch to say that in his absence, beating Manchester City goes from unlikely to impossible. In the win against City at Old Trafford, his performance at CB against Erling Haaland was magnificent.
It is a certainty that Luke Shaw will not play a part in this fixture. However, Erik ten Hag’s injury update on Shaw post-game will be eagerly awaited by fans. Quite a remarkable turnaround by the player over whom Brandon Williams was preferred at one point in his career.
Farewell season at Old Trafford
If reports are to be believed, this could be the last appearance at Old Trafford for many United players. The list is headlined by club captain Harry Maguire, who has fallen out of favour, and Scott McTominay, the subject of Newcastle’s interest. There are also others, like Fred, Anthony Elanga, Wout Weghorst, and Marcel Sabitzer, who could be making their final Old Trafford bow.
Phil Jones’s exit has also been confirmed and a final lap of honour for the long-serving CB shouldn’t be ruled out. It’s farewell season at Old Trafford, and players’ body language and actions at the end of the game could give crucial hints about where their futures lie.
Garnacho – The difference
It was in the reverse fixture of this game when Alejandro Garnacho truly announced himself as a wonderkid to watch out for. A late strike gave United momentum before the World Cup break and Garnacho has carried that form throughout the season.
With Erik ten Hag set to rotate for this game, the chance will be there for the Argentinian to make an impact from the start. A great performance in this one could be the launchpad to greatness which he looks destined to achieve.
