Even though they have won two out of their opening four games of the 2023/24 Premier League, it has been a difficult start to the season for Manchester United.
There has been a notable lack of intensity and chemistry across the four league games, with Erik ten Hag already feeling the heat. They were fortunate to overcome Wolves and Nottingham Forest, but injuries to key players, off-field issues and defeats to Tottenham and Arsenal have left the Red Devils already playing catch-up in the Premier League.
Erik ten Hag’s side have gone into the international break off the back of a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. And the Old Trafford faithful have rightfully voiced their dismay at the club’s current predicament amid the takeover saga, despite Man United splashing out big on the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Mason Mount in the summer.
With Ten Hag under early scrutiny, here are the three things we have learned watching Man United from the opening four matchweeks.
- Ten Hag yet to figure out his strongest first XI
With a glut of injuries and off-field issues, Ten Hag’s team selection options are limited.
Raphael Varane, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo and Amad Diallo are all injured, while Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof were forced off with suspected injury and illness respectively in the defeat to Arsenal. Sofyan Amrabat was signed from Fiorentina on loan on deadline day to bolster the midfield, but is also injured, leaving the manager with a dearth of options.
The off-field controversies surrounding Antony has seen the club delay his return. Jadon Sancho could come in for Antony, but after his social media outburst defying his manager over selection against Arsenal, he is unlikely to feature anytime soon. This means Ten Hag will have limited options in attack going into the game against Brighton.
The lack of continuity due to injury problems have contributed to a testing start to the season for Ten Hag, but the United boss needs to find his best XI—and quickly.
- Mason Mount yet to sparkle
Mason Mount’s start to life as a United player has been underwhelming. The England international failed to score or assist in the games against Wolves and Tottenham before missing the last two games with a thigh injury.
Given that Mount’s area of play—attacking midfield or wide—was not in desperate need of bolstering, spending £60m on his purchase looks odd at this moment in time. It remains to be seen when he recovers from a thigh problem but the midfielder must start delivering the goods in order to avoid the tag of “flop signing” of the transfer window.
The jury is still out on Mount.
- Andre Onana looks like a coup
Andre Onana signed for United for a £45 million fee from Inter Milan as David de Gea’s replacement, after the Spaniard left the club at the expiry of his contract at the end of June. With Onana replacing De Gea as the club’s new No.1 in goal, Ten Hag’s side have looked a lot better in building up attacks from the back as compared to last season.
Ten Hag knows the Cameroon international in and out and the shot-stopper’s performance levels went up last season as he helped Inter Milan reach the Champions League final. There has been early scrutiny over the 27-year-old’s handling and reflexes as he has conceded seven goals in the opening four games, but Onana has the potential to be the game-changing for the Red Devils.