Manchester United are enduring one of their more difficult periods in modern history but there are reasons to be optimistic as it was recently announced that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has acquired 25% of the club, with the English billionaire assuming responsibility of the club’s footballing department.
2023 has been a highly turbulent year for the club but it started better than most could have hoped, with the side flying under Erik ten Hag and ending their six-year wait for silverware in February.
That was about as good as it got in 2023 as a top-four position had already, more or less, been secured at that point.
Following the summer transfer window, United have struggled to meet expectations and are severely lacking behind their competitors.
They have already lost 13 games in all competitions this season – the first time United have succumbed to that many defeats by this point since 1930.
United have also failed to score in four consecutive games and speaking ahead of tonight’s visit of Aston Villa, Ten Hag admitted that expectations have not been met but reflected on some of the highs of the latest calendar year.
“We can look back on year with mixture of emotions,” Ten Hag said in his programme notes, according to BBC journalist Simon Stone.
“There’s been some real high points – winning Carabao Cup – and some lower moments. Current season has, so far, been below expectation levels we set for ourselves. Christmas provides opportunity to change the story.”
Aston Villa are tipped to remain in the title conversation beyond the new year and come into the game at Old Trafford on Boxing Day as favourites.
A victory over Unai Emery’s men could be the catalyst for change as Ten Hag will also be handed the boost of the return of several first-team players in the next two weeks.
