Manchester United may not qualify for champions League football next season
There are several factors that could potentially hinder Manchester United’s chances of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League this season. Here are some key reasons:
1) Inconsistent performances: Manchester United has struggled to maintain a consistent level of performance throughout the season, leading to dropped points against lower-ranked teams. This inconsistency could make it difficult for them to accumulate enough points to secure a top-four spot.
2) Strong competition: With teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, and Newcastle United performing well this season, the competition for a top-four finish is intense. Manchester United will need to outperform these strong rivals to secure a Champions League berth.
3) Defensive weaknesses: The team has experienced defensive lapses at times, conceding goals that could have been prevented. If these issues are not addressed, they could continue to drop points and fall short of the top four.
4) Potential for squad fatigue: With multiple competitions to focus on, Manchester United’s squad depth will be tested. If they fail to effectively manage player fatigue, it could impact their performance in crucial Premier League matches.
5) Inability to maintain momentum: Even if Manchester United manages to string together a series of victories, maintaining that momentum throughout the remainder of the season will be challenging. Any slip-ups could allow other teams to overtake them in the race for the top four.
Despite these potential obstacles, Manchester United still has a chance to secure a top-four finish. It will require a strong, consistent performance from the entire team and effective management of the challenges they face.
Man Utd to sell SIX stars including Mason Greenwood and £113m pair, as Ratcliffe revolution gets real
Manchester United have been tipped to sell six first-team stars to begin an anticipated squad clear-out this summer, while a series of releases and a loan departure will see the final exit figure fly past double figures, according to a report.
Major change is on the horizon at Old Trafford this summer. Following his partial take-over, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is pulling the strings and the club’s hierarchy behind the scenes has is in the process of being overhauled.
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Omar Berrada has been drafted in to replace Richard Arnold as CEO. Dan Ashworth is expected to join from Newcastle as the sporting director once a compensation fee has been agreed. The man he’ll replace – John Murtough – stepped down from his role earlier on Tuesday, according to David Ornstein.
Furthermore, Jason Wilcox has agreed to become the new technical director at Man Utd. Wilcox will replace Darren Fletcher who’ll remain at United, though in a renamed and recalibrated role.
The changes may well extend to the dugout, with fresh reports suggesting Erik ten Hag will be axed thanks in part to his ‘kamikaze’ tactics.
Six up for sale
Luckhurst named Alvaro Fernandez, Donny van de Beek, Hannibal Mejbri, Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood and Facundo Pellistri as players who could United could collect fees for this summer.
Left-back Fernandez is currently loaned to Benfica and his deal contains an option to buy that becomes an obligation if he plays a certain number of games.
However, Fernandez has been used sparingly in recent weeks and the MEN suggest this may be with a view to ensuring Benfica avoid triggering the clause.
Hannibal is on loan at Sevilla and his stint in Spain has failed to ignite. Sevilla can sign the combative midfielder via an option worth €20m. Various sources all agree Sevilla will pass on the clause.
Van de Beek is another who is out on loan, though like Hannibal, his current club aren’t expected to sign the player outright.
Eintracht Frankfurt are expected to ignore their €14m option to buy following Van de Beek’s sub-par displays in Germany so far.
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Fernandez, Hannibal and Van de Beek are thus set to return to Old Trafford in the summer. If Luckhurst is correct, the next step in their respective careers will be permanent sales.
Sancho (loaned to Borussia Dortmund) and Mason Greenwood (loaned to Getafe) are also on the chopping block. Marca claimed Man Utd will command £43m for Greenwood, while United’s asking price for Sancho is said to be £30m.
Generating £30m and a maximum of £12m for Van de Beek (the cost of his Frankfurt option) would mean Man Utd suffer a loss of £71m on the pair who were signed for £113m combined.
Pellistri had struggled to convince Ten Hag he was worthy of regular minutes this term and was duly loaned to Granada in January. The Mirror claimed earlier in April that it’s dawned on Pellistri he has no long-term future at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has insisted Man Utd to sell SIX stars including Mason Greenwood and £113m pair, as Ratcliffe revolution gets real
that one of his fellow Manchester United legends would demand “100 per cent” from his teammates “every single day” at Old Trafford.
The 51-year-old Norwegian former forward had a prolific playing career at Old Trafford after Sir Alex Ferguson brought him to Manchester United in the 1990s.
Signed from Norwegian side Molde in 1996, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became a key figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s teams of the past and made a lasting mark at United.
Solskjaer thrived at United and hoovered up the major silverware at the Red Devils, including lifting six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League.
The former United star is inextricably linked to the Red Devils’ iconic treble-winning side after his famous heroics in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
Solskjaer’s playing career at United saw him often fighting for his place in the starting XI, with the Red Devils legend making a sensational impact from the bench.
Following his illustrious playing career, Solskjaer later returned to Old Trafford and became United caretaker manager after Jose Mourinho’s sacking from the club.
Solskjaer’s scintillating spell at United as caretaker manager led to his permanent appointment in 2019, with the Norwegian’s reign at Old Trafford lasting until 2021.
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Solskjaer praises Man Utd legend
During his time as Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led the Red Devils to a second-place Premier League finish and a Europa League final.
However, the United legend would leave the Premier League club without any silverware as a manager, with Solskjaer sacked from his post at Old Trafford.
Despite his mixed spell as a manager, the Norwegian remains a beloved figure at United and has openly spoken about his time in the Red Devils dugout.
Solskjaer spent a large part of his United playing career alongside Roy Keane, who is considered one of the best captains of all time.
Roy Keane, who inherited the captain’s armband from Eric Cantona, excelled under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and had a lasting impact at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer has opened up on the elite mindset of the Irishman and how Keane would ‘push’ his United teammates and “wanted to count” on them all the time.
“When we played, we used to have a few fights,” he told FourFourTwo magazine.
“He demanded 100 per cent every single day. He pushed the players and wanted to count on his teammates all the time.”
Solskjaer on Man Utd legend Keane and ‘trouble’ claim
Keane was known for his no-nonsense approach both on the pitch and off it, with the 52-year-old Irish hardman pulling no punches when necessary.
The Sky Sports pundit was a commanding box-to-box midfielder during his time at Old Trafford and is thought of highly for his legendary spell at United.
Solskjaer insisted that Keane loved to moan as a player – something he still does on punditry – and claimed that it was a sign that showed he cared about a teammate.
In fact, the former United star claimed that the moment that Keane stopped moaning at a player was a clear sign that they “were in trouble.”
“The day Roy stopped moaning at you, you knew you were in trouble,” Solskjaer continued.
“It meant he’d given up on you. He never stopped shouting at me, so he saw something in me.
“When I saw him stop shouting at certain individuals, I used to think, ‘You’re finished, you’re done.’ And they usually were.”
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