Man Utd can only rely on six players – here are the areas they must improve this summer
JM Barrie wrote in “Peter Pan” that “all the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” The same can currently be said of Manchester United’s squad.
First, there’s faith – players Erik Ten Hag has believed in largely because he’s had no choice, whether due to lack of alternatives or an oversized price tag that’s never quite been removed. He inherited an amalgam of both 24-carat and Fool’s Gold and has had to value it all equally to negotiate a 62-game first season.
David de Gea is the clearest example of this. United’s seventh-highest all-time appearance maker, he is the only remaining Premier League winner in the squad and the league’s Golden Glove winner despite conceding 43 goals.
He’s also an anachronism – an elite goalkeeper who is average at best with the ball at his feet. This has always been justified by his shot-stopping ability, but the FA Cup final confirmed this is no longer a fair defence. The image of Stefan Ortega’s impeccable long pass from kick-off leading to a shot the Spaniard did not move to intercept should and will live long in the memory.
His contract expiring in a month’s time is almost too clean an exit for Man Utd, too easy a chance to escape – they should not spurn it.
Giving David de Gea a new contract would be a mistake
De Gea’s inaction on both Gundogan goals cost United at Wembley (Photo: Getty)
By Daniel Storey, i chief football writer
The FA Cup final can be viewed through the prism of two goalkeepers. Pep Guardiola chose to rest Ederson in favour of Stefan Ortega, who played throughout this competition and possesses the composure under pressure that allows City-ball to progress serenely.
Manchester United have David de Gea, whose distribution makes his team one-dimensional, who failed to dive for the first goal and who reacted so tardily for the second that he made a tame shot look potent.
The timing of those goals, and De Gea’s inaction, punched United in the gut. At 12 seconds, Gundogan halved the record for the quickest FA Cup final goal. But his second, from a corner and screwed off his left foot, killed United’s spirit.
Around them, United huffed and puffed and, once or twice, might have blown over a house made of straw. Manchester City prefer concrete and reinforced steel (and that’s just Rodri ruling a midfield).
De Gea should provoke a conversation, but Ten Hag seems committed to upselling everything as good news. If this is to be a successful reign – at least according to United’s historic standards – he must be provided with the funds that allow him to jettison those who are not up to task, whatever their reputation or their past service.
But Ten Hag must also be ruthless. Publicly backing De Gea is no surprise; arranging for a new contract would be a mistake.
Returning loanees Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer will be remembered as other examples of misplaced faith, as will Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho. The unfortunate yet undoubtedly talented duo are £155m worth of “wrong place, wrong time” and transfers away are in both the club and players’ interests. It’s not that it won’t work anywhere, but it clearly isn’t at Old Trafford.
The final figures of failed faith are Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek. McTominay may be a controversial choice, but due to injury and the Fred-surgence, the Scot is not trusted as he should be. Van de Beek is a less provocative pick.
Yet these seven departures leave seven cavities in a squad already lacking depth and senior figures. It is suggested United’s transfer war chest may be more of a war purse, or fashionable war wallet, unless their takeover is confirmed in the very near future.
Reaching the Champions League is all well and good for United, taking them to their rightful place at Europe’s top table, yadda yadda yadda. But it will also require a significant increase in players Ten Hag knows he can trust, rely on without doubt.
Erik ten Hag will be keen to keep Fred – but maybe not David de Gea (Photo: Getty)
As it stands, that number probably tops out at six – Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw. Most of a defence, half a midfield, and a one-man forward line. These six players have taken the Red Devils to the Champions League, but keeping them there is a wholly different proposition. Players cannot sustain Saturday-Tuesday weeks without rest, but United will not be able to sustain brilliance when resting this sextet without reinforcements.
This support can come from within the club – Ten Hag has quietly been developing a nursery for his next trusted lieutenants. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, once derided for his failings in playing a role he was never built to play, has been permitted to accentuate his exceptional strengths as a one-v-one defender. Another right-back, Diogo Dalot, has also excelled when fit, as has Tyrell Malacia – full-back is perhaps the only position that requires no improvement.
Victor Lindelof has proven himself a proficient and trustworthy support act, but still needs a second-string partner for the desired quartet of options in central defence. The final man in this underclass of dependability is Fred. The Brazilian made the joint-third most appearances this season alongside Rashford, yet only has one year left on his contract and a move to Fulham has been strongly linked. He can be trusted, but only if he stays.
Finally comes the pixie dust – players kept around for potential magic, those whose brilliance can only be pinpointed fleetingly, men made to make big moments. Every squad needs a healthy dose of pixie dust, but too much of anything is dangerous.
There’s a risk this is the case with United’s veritable glut of magic men – Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Facundo Pellistri, Anthony Elanga and Anthony Martial may soon be joined by the returning Amad Diallo. A rapidly aging Christian Eriksen can also fit into this category – as he demonstrated at Wembley, he no longer has the legs for anything more than moments.
This signposts the kind of player United now require – resilient, graspable talents, those well-versed in “the essentials”. Links with Mason Mount, Harry Kane and David Raya suggest they are on the right track, but the feasibility of these moves is still unclear.
Ten Hag’s order for the summer will be players he can unequivocally trust – hold the pixie dust. Balancing the need for volume with the requisite quality will be far simpler if those newcomers can be relied upon.
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