Manchester United are shaping up nicely for the upcoming Premier League 2021-22 season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has received vociferous backing from the board during his underwhelming time as the manager at Old Trafford but failing to put up a title bid this season will certainly see the pressure mount inside the club.
Ole has secured the signing of the English superstar Jadon Sancho while the arrival of Real Madrid’s serial winner Raphael Varane will be announced any moment now.
With the club looking at Kieran Trippier as another option at right-back, the Red Devils look well-stocked ahead of the season.
3 three things Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should do to make Man United title challengers
Retain Paul Pogba
Pogba has been an enigma for the United hierarchy with Ole failing to unleash the best version of the Frenchman till now. The World Cup winner, on his day, is one of the most destructive midfielders in Europe.
There are pressing issues pertaining to his contract and the distractions caused by his agent Mino Raiola. But with United showing ambition, this will be the wrong time to let go of such a talent.
It will be prudent on Manchester United’s part to take a calculated risk and let Paul Pogba run down the last year of his contract. There haven’t been any clear signs of the Frenchman agitating for a move this summer and in the likely event of a successful campaign, there will always be the opportunity to sit down for contract talks later on.
Keep Pogba and unleash his shackles for this season would be my unpopular advice to Ole.
Stick with Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back
The Englishman’s lack of attacking impetus has been widely documented during his time at the club. Wan-Bissaka is an excellent defender with his reach and tackling among the best in the league. He has nullified the threat posed by many a winger in the last couple of seasons and at 23, is finally getting into his stride.
A number of players at Manchester United have seen the support and backing of the team management inadvertently withdrawn at the most inopportune of times, especially in recent seasons Ole shouldn’t risk the same with his first-choice right-back.
Bringing in competition does bring out the best in some players, with Luke Shaw benefitting from the arrival of Alex Telles. But the right-back’s shortcomings are different.
With Jadon Sancho arriving to take up the right-wing spot, there will be less space for an attacking fullback to occupy on the overlap. The former Borussia Dortmund star likes to hug the touchline and use the space to dribble past his opposing fullback, unlike Mason Greenwood who looked to cut inside at every given opportunity.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka should get the full backing of the management and should be encouraged to play to his strengths going into the season.
Give Mason Greenwood a run as the first choice number 9
With Jadon Sancho’s inclusion, there will be a guaranteed number of goals and assists coming from a winger. His arrival means Greenwood will have to vacate the right-wing spot. A position he was keeping warm for Sancho in the first place. Greenwood prefers to play up front and with Edinson Cavani signing an extension, he should be given a significant run of games as the starter.
Cavani has been superb as an impact substitute and will reprise a similar role again. Anthony Martial is unlikely to be sold and will add to Ole’s options up top.
Mason Greenwood has impressed all with his confident finishing and ability to strike the ball with ferocity as well as finesse according to the need of the situation. One of Sir Alex’s traits was to give his full backing to the young players in the team and Greenwood is an underrated talent in the Premier League who needs exactly that at this crucial juncture.
The three points raised essentially point to me urging Ole to go back to the basics. He now has the personnel to deliver but cannot allow himself to start over-complicating things and will do well to allow his players to play to their strengths and express themselves.