ISTANBUL — So here we are. With November fast approaching, the might of Manchester United are safely nestled in between Bournemouth and Brentford in 12th in the Premier League.
In the Europa League they are 21st, with European featherweights Viktoria Plzen and Elfsborg either side, as if settling into their nice, warm burrow for winter, content with life.
There is no sense of panic as they lurch from one disappointment to another. No major concern that Erik ten Hag and his beleaguered team’s leitmotif remains meek surrender.
“Everything will turn” continues to be the party line. A point in a hostile Turkish atmosphere is not to be sniffed at, insists the manager.
Andre Onana was adamant after United slipped to a fourth straight draw in European competition against Fenerbahce, having led at least once in each game, that things will get better. “If not today, then tomorrow.”
But what if tomorrow never comes? No individual, other than perhaps Onana, is improving, so why would the collective be able to start sashaying around any corners anytime soon?
In isolation, a draw against a Fenerbahce side coached by bitter ex Jose Mourinho can be seen as a positive result. United and Ten Hag’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season, however, along with no wins from clashes with inferior Europa League opposition, means progress has to be measured against what came before, too.
Taking the lead once against teams of the calibre of Galatasaray, FC Twente, Porto and Fenerbahce and not winning can be forgiven, as long as it doesn’t happen again.
Four times in a row means there is no anomaly. Something is fundamentally wrong with the mentality of Manchester United and nobody is doing anything to fix it.
To remedy such malady, Ten Hag needs to put a stop to the acceptance of mediocrity that has been inexplicably allowed to creep in. By keeping drawing on the positives from one point taken against teams like Fenerbahce, he is allowing his players to believe brighter times are ahead if they keep going as they are.
Onana kept repeating the same message, that change will come naturally. The missed chances will eventually go in and holding onto leads will again become the norm as if by magic.
Except that’s not how it works. If one win in 11 in Europe and one in seven in all competitions this season doesn’t make it abundantly clear what United are doing is not working, then the club’s power brokers really have dropped the ball by giving Ten Hag more time to resurrect this sleeping, stuttering giant.
After Mourinho was sent to the stands for a typically over-zealous protestation in the second half on Thursday, Fenerbahce lost their mojo and were there for the taking late on in Istanbul.
United’s rearguard, with Onana again proving a tough nut to crack, had weathered the Turkish storm, and with the hosts pushing for a famous win, the gaps became chasms at the back.
Yet, time and again, a psychologically fragile United chose the wrong final ball, took the shot on with options in acres of room overlooked, wasting glorious opportunities to get their European campaign up and running and breathe life into their stagnating season.
They settled for a point. A fair return from a difficult trip. Except this is Manchester United, Erik and Andre. A draw against average Turkish opposition can be stomached had wins been on the board already.
A brighter tomorrow won’t come if Ten Hag and his players continue to think in this way. The standard of some recent goals – both in the weekend win over Brentford and Christian Eriksen’s first-half strike in Turkey – highlighted just how much talent is there.
Something like the belief to get results over the line or snatch late successes when opponents are on the ropes as Sir Alex Ferguson’s fire-breathing beast used with gusto needs to be reinstalled, quickly.
And that is down to the manager. Time to banish the mediocrity for good, Erik, before it is too late for you too.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/CdLK4JI
Post a Comment