Never in the history of Manchester United have so many different trials and tribulations happened in the space of a few months, many of which have been out of the manager’s control.
The takeover saga still lingers on, with fan protests continuing on a weekly basis as we get radio silence from the much-maligned Glazer family owners, safely watching from across the pond.
The club’s reluctance to deal with Mason Greenwood was deplorable in the extreme, casting a shadow on events on the pitch too, and Antony’s leave of absence amid allegations of assault only added to Erik ten Hag’s headaches.
United’s defeat to Galatasaray on Tuesday night was their sixth in the opening 10 matches of the season – the first time they have slumped to such a nadir since Big Ron Atkinson’s chaotic side of 1986-87.
“There are no excuses,” a disconsolate Ten Hag admitted when trying to fathom quite how United twice threw away the lead to lose to a Galatasaray team who had not won away from home in the Champions League in a decade.
“The errors we are making… we have to do better.”
Certain former players are regularly rounding on the Glazers as the reason for putting United in their dizzying death spiral. The term “cultural reset” is bandied about with reckless abandon.
But to lose a lead six minutes after edging in front in the first half on Tuesday, only to then be pegged back again within four minutes of going 2-1 up in the second half is not a result of indecision in a Florida boardroom.
The mental weakness of Manchester United means they are effectively beaten before they even come out onto the pitch this season – and that psychological fragility falls on the coach.
At least in Groundhog Day, Phil Connors enjoyed some elements of knowing what is coming next. The same cannot be said for those trudging to Old Trafford week after week to see the world’s most expensively assembled squad get stage fright.
The signs were there in the opening day victory over Wolves. United looked like they had returned late from a team bonding trip to Mykonos as their vibrant opponents put them on the back foot from the off.
Casemiro looked dazed as confused as a swarm of gold bore down on him time and again – a sight from which he has never quite recovered. Better finishing and a competent VAR would have worsened United’s predicament even further.
United just looked startlingly ill-prepared from the get-go – something that after a summer with no major international tournament to disrupt training schedules is unforgivable at the top level. They have been playing catch-up ever since.
In total, United have held the lead for 28 minutes combined at home in the Premier League this season and 10 minutes in total across two Champions League matches in which they found the net five times.
In Munich, after Rasmus Hojlund opened his United account in the second half, Bayern edged back in front four minutes later.
Then, when Casemiro bundled the ball into the net to give United hope of snatching an undeserved point in the Allianz Arena, United quickly conceded again.
Hojlund is one of the few who can do more. Three months into his fledgling United career, he must be questioning his life choices, with his well-taken goals at Old Trafford on Tuesday mattering little given the fragility of those further back.
How United crumbled after Casemiro’s red card summed it all up. Galatasaray’s winner, Mauro Icardi’s first goal in the Champions League since 2019, was created by Davinson Sanchez in his own half.
A defensive header sliced United open like a knife through microwaved butter. Big money, decorated defenders watched the ball sail over their heads, helplessly. That is not down to ability, but something much deeper.
The fact the problems run so deep has supporters doubting the manager’s words when he says such a run is just a bump in the road. It is now on the Dutchman to work with what he has got and get this talented bunch who impressed last season back believing they can resurrect this sleeping giant from its slumber.
And judging by what we have seen so far this season, that is no easy task.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/cMeYVX6
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