Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked up at the lights beaming down onto the pitch at the Polsat Plus Arena in Gdańsk. It was the 26th of May. As far as this football club is concerned, 26th May is auspicious. It is Sir Matt Busby’s birthday. It is the date of one of Manchester United’s greatest ever nights when Ole Solskjaer, won a corner and got his right boot at the end of it and etched their names in the history books forever. So, 26th May, European final, Ole Solskjaer, it surely can’t go wrong can it? Surely the stars are aligned? The answers, briefly put, would be yes and no. David De Gea missed his penalty (United’s 11th) and a campaign that promised so much, encompassed so many emotions from the highs of the 6-2 dismantling of Leeds to the cold December night in Leipzig, 61 games, many great and few forgettable ones, ended in disappointment. So much for a Hollywood ending. But that’s life. There was a tear in his eye as he took his runners-up medal off his neck and folded it into in palm. His head was bent down low and you couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man. This is a man that has given this club and it’s fans, so, so much. But, like his ‘boss’, Sir Alex Ferguson said in his recent documentary ‘Never Give In’, there’s always tomorrow. Off he went down the tunnel. Manchester next day, quick couple hours to freshen up and he was back at Carrington. The wrongs needed to be corrected and a tryst with destiny lay ahead.
In the two months since, a lot has happened. Patrick Schick struck a football from 45 yards into David Marshall’s net as a collective silence fell upon Hampden Park. Christian Eriksen came close to losing his life on a football pitch but for the heroic efforts of the medic team and the prayers of the whole world. England strode on and are currently in the final at the time of writing and of course, Jadon Sancho arrived. At the time of writing United are also heavily linked with the likes of Raphael Varane and Eduardo Camavinga. To dive into the point of this article then, which is to write a season preview.
How do these signings fit in?
Well, if you’re Jadon Sancho, you’re tailor made for Manchester United. At 21, he leads several statistic charts across Europe’s top five leagues like carries into the box, successful dribbles and progressive carries. The right side of United’s attack which seems to have been vacant since David Beckham left really, finally has a fitting architect. With the addition of Jadon Sancho, the attack gets a different dynamic. It takes creative burden off Fernandes. It allows everyone else to thrive. It also provides excellent depth in quality in Mason and Anthony off the bench. Raphael Varane, who United are supposedly cautiously optimistic about and have chased for a good part of the last decade will also be a signing, if made, of the very highest quality. At 28, he has won it all. Bettered only by Maguire in aerial duels won and very swift in covering spaces, Varane adds much needed experience and dynamism to United’s backline.
The third transfer, or fourth, if we take Tom Heaton into account, is set to be a midfielder. A position which is very difficult to handpick. It has to he right. It ideally needs to be a sitter who is technically and positionally sound but also someone who is big enough and good enough to wear the red shirt. I understand the funds aren’t unlimited and a good part of €40m can be allotted, not more. As far as Eduardo Camavinga is concerned, he is still very young. So he isn’t going to be an undisputed starter. There are loads of metrics. Moving to a new country. Taking in life, training and emotions and being a starter for the biggest club in the land is a big ask. The advantage is, he can be shaped into the type which fits us. Quick of his mark, very able at getting past his man and uncannily press resistant at 18. Paul Pogba is also heavily linked with PSG at this moment and if that ends up happening and funds are made available, a more expensive signing can be thought of but if it’s Camavinga in through the door and if he starts, it’ll be with either Fred or Scott. If Pogba stays, we will certainly see him starting games in the pivot but it’s always a risk which you’d rather avoid. I do firmly believe Scott and Fred are better than what we credit them for and if United are to have a successful campaign, they need to come in handy. Someone needs to put the foot in. It’s not just cute passes. They’re instrumental. If there’s no midfielder coming in whatsoever, we better keep hold of Paul. In addition to that, I feel Garner can play a part for us in some games. There’s a future United player there and in an event of no new additions, he has an important role to play in my opinion. That’s alongside clever usage and management of Matic.
The goalkeeping situation is arguably the biggest concern. The Premier League’s highest earner simply cannot be the No.2 of a side. He needs to start. That’s ideally. But in practicality, Dean Henderson should get the nod in goal. His stats are better, his numbers are sound and United seem to be defending better or rather more confidently with him behind. Like Nemanja Vidic states in a recent article for the Athletic, the vocality and confidence of a goalkeeper goes a long way in making a title winning defence. Fergie had to drop Jim Leighton for the ’90 Cup final replay. He was vindicated. It kick-started United’s trophy laden era.
I think expectations for next season shouldn’t be too low. A top three finish in the league is achievable. Are they title favourites? No. Is it beyond them? No. A strong cup run preferably all the way to the trophy and a deep European campaign would be it for me. It’s a team that has taken strides under Solskjaer. Individuals have improved massively and are maturing and improving with every passing day. United have a good run of fixtures at the start up until the international break. That needs to be good. I think new signings will only lift the current crop and improve them. Clever management and usage of resources need to be the bedrock of next season from Ole’s perspective. There’s a very tricky period around late October all the way to early December before an unusually calm Boxing Day period with respect to gravity of fixtures. That needs to be navigated through cunningly. How important is a trophy? Very. Ole remains the only United manager since Frank O’Farrell who is yet to win silverware. This club is built on success and trophies. There’s no substitute for that. There’s also no substitute for compromising the footballing principles of this great institution and the identity of Manchester United. Something I find aplenty in this side and something that has been missing since Fergie departed. Which is the very reason the Jose Mourinho reign doesn’t have good memories. It had a couple trophies but at the expense of a lot. Ole needs to find the blend. He needs that first trophy even if it’s the League Cup. And I believe he will. We all should believe. That’s what we do at this club. That’s what the Stretford End tells us. That’s what the fans need to do.
And like the title suggests, United are on the brink. It really feels like this side is on the cusp of something beautiful. It’s not easy to dismantle some sides like they did last season. It’s not easy going away to City and winning season in season out. It’s not easy going an entire season unbeaten on the road. These facts get brushed aside conveniently but yet they exist. This is an incredible group of lads with loads of talent coming through the reserves. Perseverance and belief and we’ll get there. On the brink. So close. Hang in.
Into Added Time 