Manchester United secured a much-needed 1-0 win over Luton Town before the international break to ease some pressure off Erik ten Hag. There were a few raised eyebrows when it became apparent the Red Devils are now the Premier League’s in-form team, picking up 12 points from their last five Premier League games.
Overall, this has been a chastening second season in the dugout for Erik ten Hag, with nine defeats in just 17 matches putting him under real pressure. Decimated by injuries to key performers, Ten Hag’s team has found it difficult to get rhythm and consistency over the opening three months of the campaign. Nevertheless, they have shown signs of the fighting spirit they will need if they are to get their season back on track.
With the last international break of this year in full swing, here are three things we have learned from Manchester United’s season so far.
#Toothless in attack
A third of the way into the campaign, Man United have 13 league goals, three fewer than Wolves, under half of Aston Villa’s tally. Ridiculously, they have just one from a forward—Marcus Rashford’s strike in the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.
The club splashed big on Rasmus Hojlund in the summer, and while he has sparkled in the Champions League with five goals in four games, he is yet to break his duck in the Premier League. Rashford has been royally struggling with confidence for some time, failing to replicate his last season’s performances, while Antony yet to come close to justifying half his price tag. Anthony Martial is no longer considered a starter and Alejandro Garnacho has impressed in patches but is yet to provide goals from wide areas.
A lack of goals—especially from the forwards—is concerning for Ten Hag. Man United are not ruthless in front of goal and lack conviction in taking their chances, which has been their undoing again and again.
#Harry Maguire has revived his Man United career
It has been quite the turnaround for Harry Maguire, who has spent most of the last 18 months in the shadows. A relapse of injury to Lisandro Martinez opened the door for Maguire to come into the first XI and perform. In all honesty, the England international has barely put a foot wrong since becoming a mainstay in defence this season, winning Ten Hag over with a series of consistent displays.
Maguire’s revival at Old Trafford is a sign of his character and resilience, and when Ten Hag has looked to pick “fighters” in an effort to dig the team out of a hole, the central defender has raised his hand and delivered.
#Man United face a tough job to finish in the top five
Man United have crept to the top of the Premier League’s form table with four wins and one defeat in their past five games – and that to table toppers Man City. Normally, the sign of a good team is picking up points despite not playing well, and Ten Hag’s side have done that.
However, they just don’t seem convincing at all and scarcely show a strategy that is about to pay off with spectacular improvement. Ten Hag has had to manage with the players available and chop and change his starting XI due to a spate of injuries, which in turn has hampered the understanding and continuity of routines.
While the Red Devils are currently sixth in the table, a mere seven points behind Man City, and just five points behind fourth-placed Tottenham going into the international break, they face a big task to finish in the top five now with Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Brighton and Chelsea firmly in the mix.