Football

Premier League team performance: a suitably complemented Manchester United team will be aiming for the top. Will the competition allow it to do so?

Manchester United have, as expected, filled the previously announced roles just before the season and now fans can look forward to big things. Whether such expectations will finally be fulfilled by the Red Devils players is in the stars. However, it can be said that this team is a step further. The question remains where the competition has progressed.

Published

1 year ago

8. 8. 2023

Jirka Malý

Coach

Erik ten Hag has coached 62 games and won 42 of them, 12 times his players have left defeated. In his inaugural season, however, he was able to lead his charges to a cup victory.

Some coaches had done that before him after Alex Ferguson’s departure, but few of them have reaped praise after a season for improving on-field performances that give Red Devils fans hope that they will once again be in contention for the league title.

They certainly have those hopes now and with the right additions to the squad, this season could be really interesting! However, due to the huge competition, one cannot expect miracles.

Goalkeeper

The biggest change in this position came when David de Gea left after many years and the very first games showed that his replacement André Onana should take the team up a level.

How he will do in the Premier League, however, remains to be seen. However, Manchester United’s play should be helped by his ability to play the ball significantly better in the midfield, which has often been a nightmare for Red Devils fans with the Spanish goalkeeper.

Defence

The defence remained almost unchanged. The 35-year-old Jonny Evans, who had long convinced Leicester of his qualities, returned to Old Trafford after many years. Raphaël Varane and Lisandro Martínez form a very good stopper duo, who can fill in for either Victor Lindelöf or the aforementioned Evans if needed.

Considering the past season and also the summer preparation, perhaps everyone is hoping for Harry Maguire’s departure. This increasingly disaster will hopefully remain on the bench, but a change of jersey would be even better.

Changes were expected at the edges of the defence, however, quite possibly the limited budget has forced the Hag to make do with what he has. The left and right sides are certainly not the team’s weakness, but on the other hand, they are nothing special either.

However, Luke Shaw’s consistently quality performances with the ever-improving Diogo Dalot should be a good foundation for the coming season.

Backup

With the arrival of Casemiro, Manchester United’s midfield has once again become a pride that the Hag can rely on. That is, of course, as long as Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes are on the pitch together.

88% – Manchester United have won 15 and lost none of the 17 matches in which Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Bruno Fernandes have all started together in all competitions (D2), a win rate of 88%. Nucleus.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 16, 2023

Mason Mount has now been added to that trio and a lot is expected of him. In addition, Scott Mctominay, Fred, Donny van de Beek remain at Old Trafford, which is certainly a quality replacement for the Red Devils’ star midfielders. However, it could still happen that we see at least one of this trio in a different jersey in the upcoming season.

Attack

If new signing Rasmus Hojlund gets shot and Marcus Rashford builds on last season, opponents have a lot to look forward to. Plus, the Hag has Jadon Sancho, Antony and burgeoning Argentine star Alejandro Garnacha at his disposal, who has some really interesting potential and just needs to mature.

Fans will be expecting a lot from the attack, but let’s see if they confirm that on the pitch. If so, Manchester United should definitely be fighting for at least second place. Among his biggest competitors are Manchester City, who will traditionally be the biggest favourites to win the league title, and Arsenal.

The question then becomes how Liverpool and Chelsea will fare. Newcastle can no longer be expected to retreat to the middle of the table and Aston Villa also have a great squad. However, Manchester United should be above these mentioned teams and the minimum benchmark is certainly at least 4th place and a solid result in the Champions League.