As the festive season approaches, Manchester United find themselves grappling with unexpected challenges in the 2023-24 season.
It’s a stark contrast to the success they enjoyed under Erik ten Hag in his first season in charge at Old Trafford.
The Dutch manager was lauded for bringing home the League Cup, marking the Red Devils’ first taste of silverware since 2017, and securing a commendable third-place finish in the Premier League.
However, the current season has proven to be a rollercoaster ride — leaving fans and pundits alike questioning the team’s direction.
The early stages of the season have witnessed Manchester United battling an uncharacteristic inconsistency, with flashes of brilliance overshadowed by perplexing slumps in form.
The statistical snapshot reveals a disconcerting reality for the Red Devils’ supporters, and there’s real cause for concern ahead of West Ham vs Man United at the London Stadium on December 23.
After 16 games, Ten Hag’s team sit in sixth place, having secured nine victories but suffered seven defeats — including a humiliating 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford earlier this month.
The inability to string together a series of positive results has raised questions about the team’s identity and ability to mount a serious challenge to secure Champions League football.
The attacking quartet of Anthony, Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlundand Martial have struggled to find the back of the net consistently, with a paltry 18 goals scored, while defensive vulnerabilities have seen Manchester United concede 21 times.
One of the eyebrow-raising decisions of the summer transfer window was the acquisition of Jonny Evans.
The experienced defender was only initially training with the squad in the summer to keep up his fitness after leaving Leicester City.
However, he was given a contract and has seemingly climbed up the defensive pecking order ahead of the World Cup-winning Raphael Varane — leaving fans perplexed.
The defensive puzzle is further complicated by the lacklustre performances of summer signing Andre Onana, who, despite high expectations, has committed several costly errors between the sticks.
It’s not just in the Premier Leaguethat Manchester United have struggled either.
The defence of their League Cup started well with a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the third, but the Red Devils’ hopes of retaining the trophy were dashed by a shock 3-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United in the round of 16 as Eddie Howe’s men avenged their Wembley heartache.
That’s not all, the Champions League also proved to be a tale of woe for Manchester United and Ten Hag.
Drawn into Group A alongside Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray, progression to the knockout stages didn’t appear easy for Manchester United, but they were still expected to at least clinch second behind Bayern.
However, the Red Devils finished bottom of the pile with just four points and will, therefore, not even progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Blame can once again be pointed at the Manchester United defence, as the leaky backline conceded a staggering 15 goals — the worst defensive record for a Premier League side in the Champions League group stage.
As the Red Devils gear up for this crucial clash with West Ham at the London Stadium, which will be tough to call given both side’s form in the Premier League winner odds, questions linger about the team’s ability to turn the tide.
Ten Hag faces a stern test in restoring the winning mentality and addressing glaring issues that have plagued the squad in the early stages of the season.
The festive period could prove pivotal in defining the trajectory of Manchester United’s campaign, as they aim to salvage a season that started with promise but has descended into turbulence — and it will be interesting to see how much longer Ten Hag can survive at the helm of this sinking ship.
