Best performance of the season in FA Cup final leads Manchester United back into Europe

Lead-up to the FA Cup final was dire for Manchester United; tepid displays throughout the season with most of the defence being injured that made critics question the inflexible tactics and bad signings of Erik ten Hag. English Premier League concluded with United finishing 8th with -1 goal difference and record 14 defeats thus missing out on playing in European competition next season. United lost both home and away matches to Man City, Arsenal, Crystal Palace and suffered embarrassment at Old Trafford to Wolves(won), Brighton, Bournemouth, Fulham, Burnley(draw) to name a few. Despite injuries Erik ten Hag persisted with same formation due to which United were humiliated with an onslaught of attempts at their goal irrespective of the opposition. It was terrible to watch.

INEOS who took charge of sporting organization at Old Trafford despite their minority stake, started to build a structure with appointments of Omar Berrada as CEO and Jason Wilcox as Technical Director while waiting for Dan Ashworth to take charge as Sporting Director. Wilcox also reviewed Erik ten Hag's tactics and United have seen a change of formation with Bruno Fernandes playing as a false nine with no striker being selected in last 3 games of the season and win! The capitulation in FA Cup semi-final against Coventry to lose 3-0 lead, Sky Blues were denied a victory by thinnest of margins in offside rule and then finally United won on penalties. To many critics, this level of non-performance to a Championship side was simply unacceptable and managerial change an inevitability.

My comments after draw with AFC Bournemouth

United were battered by Thomas Frank's Brentford in 1-1 away draw but worst was yet to come. Losing 0-4 to Crystal Palace under inspired management of Oliver Glasner made even Erik ten Hag to admit "This was our worst defeat of the season" and accused his players of not following his instructions. United lost the next home game to Arsenal but showed some fight. Back-to-back victories over Newcastle and Brighton brought a sense of calm. Manchester derby in FA Cup final yet again as last year, and City were the overwhelming favourites to win.

Meanwhile Chelsea did a review of their season and decided to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto de Zerbi left Brighton mutually. This started a chain reaction of clubs jostling to speak with new breed of young managers who could be moulded by the hierarchial structure of directors at top clubs now. Kieran McKenna, Enzo Maresca, Thomas Frank, Michel are all being considered for these vacancies. Vincent Kompany on the verge of becoming Bayern Munich head coach and Thiago Motta is set to manage Juventus. News started to emerge of United representatives being in touch with those of Kieran McKenna. Consequentially report was published in the Guardian that United have already decided to sack Erik ten Hag after the FA Cup final.

Erik ten Hag's number one choice of centre-half's Martinez and Varane made the XI so did defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat who belatedly found his form so late in the season that he was selected ahead of substandard Casemiro, who at the time of warm-up before the game withdrew citing injury. United pressed City from the start and Amrabat marked Kevin de Bruyne out of the match thus affording Mainoo and McTominay to venture forward. First goal by Garnacho exposed City's bad call to not start their experienced keeper Ederson while the second was a great team goal. Started from the back then to Fernandes to Mainoo, long from Rashfoard to Garnacho who cut in to pass to Fernandes whose deft touch opened up City's defense for Mainoo to slot the ball perfectly at the far corner. In both goals long ball was used; firstly, by Dalot to Garnacho and then by Rashford to Garnacho. To defend the late surge from City, Aaron wan-Bissaka was good to thwart the dangerous winger Doku. Onana made a few crucial saves especially the two thunderbolts from Kyle Walker and commanded the penalty area. Foden had a day to forget, so did Pep Guardiola.



United became the first team to have two teenagers score in the final of the FA Cup! It was United's 13th FA Cup! First time Guardiola has lost a Cup final in 7 attempts in England! After a drought of five years, United now have won two trophies in two years! United qualify to play in Europa League and Newcastle miss out on European football despite finishing 7th. After the last FA Cup win in 2016, Manchester United sacked Louis van Gaal and appointed a non-United like choice from purist's viewpoint in Jose Mourinho. Hope they don't do the same mistake again! This was a statement win with performance of the highest calibre from players who demonstrated they still play for the manager. Tactical masterclass to beat the best manager in the world to win the trophy that's most dear to the fans, let's give Erik ten Hag another year and see what he can achieve with a full-strength squad.

My prediction before the FA Cup final! Hurrah!!

Erik ten Hag's future uncertain despite the heroics against Liverpool in FA Cup

Oft overlooked by Erik ten Hag the Ivorian winger Amad Diallo scored an unlikely goal to help United win in 121st minute of extra time in the FA Cup quarter-finals against arch rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford. That 4-3 victory will go down as an all-time FA Cup classic. It's the 10th time that Manchester United have knocked Liverpool off in the world's oldest Cup competition, more than any other team! This match was billed as a 'Judgement Day' for the embattled Dutch coach and he came out victorious. This epic victory should have galvanized the team to finish the season stronger.

That did not happen. United gave one of their worst performances of the season to draw 1-1 at Brentford, lose in 2nd half stoppage time to Chelsea 4-3, drew with both Liverpool and Bournemouth 2-2. That's potentially dropping 8 massive points when United are already 10 points behind 4th place! Realistically United now battle with other two United's in Newcastle and West Ham for the 6th spot and rule out Champions' League football. That will hurt the earnings given the already challenging situation with respect to Profitability and Sustainability Rules and impact the summer transfer activity.

Against Liverpool, Erik ten Hag got the substitutions right and he timed it well. He was always proactive and seemed to think of all options available to him. Yes Liverpool failed to capitalize on their dominance and score. Rashford missed chance after chance until the extra time for 3rd goal, Anthony having a torrid season saved his coach's blushes by scoring the vital equalizer after he came on as a sub to take the match into extra time. Eriksen made a rare appearance after being sidelined by the rise of Kobbie Mainoo. Andre Onana has finally settled in and earning his team points by his crucial saves. Have the team and coach started to believe in one another fully now?

United faced 31 shots against Brentford and 4 hit the bar with McTominay partnering Mainoo in midfield. Erik ten Hag rested Casemiro and introduced Licha Martinez too soon and got injured again, so did Lindelof after Maguire was brought on for Varane. Defensive nightmare. Mason Mount scored his first goal in injury time and team gave away the lead inside 3 minutes. United had 28 shots against Chelsea and lost the lead in stoppage time to concede two goals! Unpardonable. At half time United probably lost Raphael Varane forever with his later claim of concussion as he approaches final 3 months of his contract with United having averaged partly 19 games a season in 3 years. Evans substituting Varane also got injured and had to be subbed. Anthony had a decent game while Rashford was rested for this game.

It was time for Liverpool in the league and United's first half was atrocious to concede 15 shots with their best XI available to them. Credit to Willy Kambwala who displayed no nerves and gave a rousing audition. Kambwala, Mainoo and Garnacho the three teenagers to face the arch rivals. Second half was much better with two pieces of individual brilliance from Fernandes and Mainoo to give United the lead 2-1. Wan-Bissaka was harshly adjudged to give away a penalty. United did dent Liverpool's title hopes. Bournemouth hit United 20 times and took the lead twice but for Fernandes to score twice and deny the seasiders their first double over United. Fans were left to wonder how this team that battled Liverpool in second half can be so flat in the next game. Kambwala's slip is to be ignored but not the decision to not bring either Eriksen or Amrabat on to get more control in the game. Garnacho was tired and Amad was brought on at half time. United were simply battered black and blue by Iraola's side. 

Amrabat who had played for Erik ten Hag earlier surprisingly looks out of depth to play for United. His loan fee is not cheap. Licha Martinez is often injured and forces the hierarchy to get two new centre-backs instead of one. Anthony has not lived to the hype around his massive transfer fee and instead United should have got Victor Osimhen. Reluctance to change the shape of midfield given that both Mount and Eriksen are available to gain more control of games. Persistence with out of form Casemiro. Erik ten Hag will lead United against Coventry City in the FA Cup semifinal but his methods have not yielded a style of play that fans can relate to.

Instead, it's the same old counter attack and relying on moments of individual brilliance to scrape through when the opposition has completely dominated the game. Injuries especially to the back four, Ronaldo/Sancho/Greenwood situations, lack of football structure behind the coaching staff, change of ownership, promoting Garnacho/Mainoo/Kambwala all adds in his defense so does his first trophy the League Cup and second potential FA Cup final in two years. There is however Massimiliano Allegri who had always wanted to coach United and might be available in the summer. That is high profile candidature unlike Potter, Frank, O'Neil and his relaxed attitude might edge the players too. Decision time for INEOS. With the right structure behind him including recruitment, medicine, training etc being setup by Brailsford, Berrada, Ashworth, Wilcox et al the Dutchman might get one final shot to make things right. The on-field evidence has clearly not been convincing.

Decent transfer window despite restrcitions from FFP

Manchester United's greatest captain of 21st century, Roy Keane demanded they sign Harry Kane and Declan Rice. Erik ten Hag and the club were very clear that they wanted more than that starting from changing the goalkeeper. United completed their major first team reinforcements by 1st week of August: Mason Mount, Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund. This was a major departure from the way they conducted their transfers before. Mount and Onana were part of pre-season tour of America where they lost majority of their games, and Hojlund carrying a minor back injury was a doubt to be fit for opening game of the new English Premier League season.

To balance the books due to Financial Fair Play rules United had to raise funds by selling players before they could make any further incoming transfers. Every club in Europe knew this desperate position of United, once mighty club reduced to accepting low bids from 3rd tier clubs in part due to their poor recruitment over the years. Mark Ogden wrote a brilliant piece about this in ESPN "fact that he (Erik ten Hag) has written off 20 first-team players since taking charge just 15 months ago highlights how poor the club's squad had become". David de Gea, Donny van de Beek, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe haven't found a club yet.

This gap in valuations of players from club like Manchester United and their worth as seen by clubs was always going to delay the agreement over transfer fee. This situation was compounded by clubs farcical handling of Mason Greenwood internal investigation. Countdown presenter and long term United fan Rachel Riley threatened to boycott the club. Entire club lacked focus and promptly lost to Spurs 0-2 with utterly dispirited performance. Thus far the biggest blunder of chief executive Richard Arnold.

In keeping with habit of Erik ten Hag to retain the same starting XI that surrendered to Spurs and make improvements in effectiveness of gameplay with same XI, United came-back from 0-2 down to win 3-2 at home in their next game against Wolves. Then deadline day loomed. United were kept waiting for 4-days by Crystal Palace to conclude the deal for Dean Henderson for 15 million initial fee with 5 million in add-ons. This led to a frantic day of dealings to complete the signing of Altay Bayindir, Sergio Reguilon, Johnny Evans and Sofiyan Amrabat. Due to this delay United were forced to not commit to Marc Cucurella from Chelsea who could have been an upgrade to Luke Shaw and instead had to opt for Reguilon. The one deal all United fans were crying out for was that of Sofyan Amrabat and it was completed not as a direct buy but on loan due to insufficient funds. Salute to Morrocan's patience to wait till last minute of transfer window after contacts were made with his team in June itself. Seven incomings in one transfer window is decent return overall.

Barnay Roonay criticised Manchester United transfer activity on the 10th anniversary of 1st transfer window of post Ferguson era when Fellaini was brought on deadline day as most players deserted United and without David Gill, United had no plan to tackle that. This window isn't the same and instead he could have highlighted the plight of Manchester United famed for promoting their academy players to be forced to sell them in record numbers to raise funds: Charlie Savage, Anthony Elanga, Zidane Iqbal, Ethan Laird, Di'Shon Bernard, Matej Kovar, Noam Emeran, Teden Mengi, Logan Pye. Listed are only the 9 of 15 academy players moved on. Sir Alex Ferguson would often introduce young players at full back positions late in 2nd half after contracting their midfield, United of 2023 chose to loan out Alvaro Fernandez and get Sergio Reguilon on loan after injury to two left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. 23.5 million as per transfermarkt raised by selling Elanga, Kovar, Iqbal of total 55.24 million i.e., 42.54%. Inability to sell Harry Maguire was the only negative of transfer window as United needed a new partner to Lisandro Martinez since Varane is often injured and Lindelof like Henning Berg is effective but not convincing.

All focus will be on Rasmus Hojlund when he makes the much-awaited debut. Return of Cristiano Ronaldo disrupted the away record under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and it has got worse since then. Industry of Hojlund will be key to press from high up and be first line of defense. Ronaldo signing was necessitated to protect his legacy of his first stint with United and not let him join City. United have retained 19-year old striker Joe Hugill as backup option! United needed the numbers (7) to reinforce the squad after writing off close to 20 players. Second season is more difficult than first but Erik ten Hag has got his players unlike Jose Mourinho so he should be able to slowly improvise team at his disposal to eke out good results eventually.