Recent Man Utd analysis has been filled with frustration and disappointment, as the team has failed to win their opening major European match in each of the last four seasons. The team’s latest result, a 1-1 draw with Dutch side Twente in their Europa League opener, has raised more questions than answers about their ability to compete at the highest level.
Despite the arrival of new signings and a renewed sense of optimism around Old Trafford, Manchester United’s form has been underwhelming. With just three wins from their first eight games of the campaign, including a penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield, Erik ten Hag’s men are struggling to find their rhythm.
The team’s lack of cohesion and creativity on the pitch has been evident, with no United player scoring more than one goal in the Premier League so far this season. Alejandro Garnacho, a substitute against Twente, is the overall top scorer with four goals, two of which came in the 7-0 victory over League One side Barnsley.
Manager Erik ten Hag has been quick to deflect criticism, citing expected goals (xG) figures to suggest that his team has been unfortunate. However, the numbers tell a different story. United have underperformed their xG in five of their seven competitive games, with a chance conversion rate of just seven percent.
Is it One Step Forward and Two Back for Erik ten Hag and Manchester United?
Despite the arrival of new signings and a renewed sense of optimism around Old Trafford, Manchester United’s form has been underwhelming. The team’s latest result, a 1-1 draw with Dutch side Twente in their Europa League opener, has raised more questions than answers about their ability to compete at the highest level.
Erik ten Hag’s men have won just three of their first eight games of the campaign, including a penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield. The team’s lack of cohesion and creativity on the pitch has been evident, with no United player scoring more than one goal in the Premier League so far this season.
The Dutch manager has been quick to deflect criticism, citing expected goals (xG) figures to suggest that his team has been unfortunate. However, the numbers tell a different story. United have underperformed their xG in five of their seven competitive games, with a chance conversion rate of just seven percent.
According to former United and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, “For all the firepower Man United had, even though they had 19 shots, it didn’t feel like it was good enough. Ruthlessness comes from the matchwinners. Man United have always had those players – the best of the best. Think of the firepower they had. Someone needs to step up with a goal when they need one. They should be creating more and scoring more.”
Manchester United’s Defensive Improvement
One of the few positives for Manchester United this season has been their defensive improvement. The team’s goals-per-game conceded rate is below one, which is better than in either of their two previous seasons under Erik ten Hag.
Despite conceding three in their home defeat to Liverpool on 1 September, United’s defence has looked more solid, particularly in recent games. However, the team’s inability to score more than one goal in a game has meant that their defensive improvement has not always translated to positive results.
Can Manchester United Turn Things Around?
With a difficult run of fixtures coming up, including matches against Tottenham, Porto, and Aston Villa, Manchester United will need to turn their form around quickly if they are to have any chance of competing for major honours this season.
According to Erik ten Hag, “We are very ambitious and when you have ambition, you have to perform. Especially today, in the second half, we were too complacent. We didn’t bring it over the line and as a team, you have to do this.”
Man Utd’s Lack of Ruthlessness in Front of Goal
One of the main concerns for Manchester United this season has been their lack of ruthlessness in front of goal. The team has struggled to score more than one goal in a game, with no United player scoring more than one goal in the Premier League so far this season.
Alejandro Garnacho, a substitute against Twente, is the overall top scorer with four goals, two of which came in the 7-0 victory over League One side Barnsley. However, the team’s lack of firepower has been evident, with only 19 shots taken in the match against Twente.
According to Owen Hargreaves, “Ruthlessness comes from the matchwinners. Man United have always had those players – the best of the best. Think of the firepower they had. Someone needs to step up with a goal when they need one. They should be creating more and scoring more.”
The Europa League Format and Manchester United’s Chances of Progression
The new eight-game single league first-stage format for the 36-team Europa League means that Manchester United will have plenty of opportunities to turn their form around and progress to the knockout stages.
However, the team will need to improve their form quickly if they are to have any chance of competing for the title. With other teams like Arsenal and Liverpool already showing their strength in the competition, Manchester United will need to step up their game if they are to have any chance of success.
External Criticism and Pressure on Erik ten Hag
With Manchester United’s form continuing to disappoint, external criticism is likely to mount. The pressure on Erik ten Hag will increase, particularly if the team fails to turn their form around quickly.
However, the Dutch manager remains confident that his team will improve, citing the squad’s quality and depth. With a few key injuries to players like Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw, the team’s performance has been affected, but ten Hag is optimistic that they will return to full strength soon.
Conclusion
Manchester United’s form this season has been underwhelming, to say the least. With a lack of cohesion and creativity on the pitch, the team has struggled to score more than one goal in a game.
Despite their defensive improvement, the team’s inability to score more goals has meant that their performances have not always translated to positive results. With a difficult run of fixtures coming up, Manchester United will need to turn their form around quickly if they are to have any chance of competing for major honours this season.
Can Erik ten Hag’s men turn things around and make a serious challenge for the Premier League and Europa League titles? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – the pressure is on the Dutch manager to deliver results and turn the team’s form around.