Keita (5’), Jota (14’), Salah (38’, 45’ 50’)
Pogba – Red card (60’)
No shape, no style, no idea
In recent weeks, a lot has been made of highlighting how Manchester United has no attacking style or pattern of play. It is surprising that fans have only realized this in recent weeks when it has been par for course since Day 1 of Ole’s tenure. Even when he took over Jose Mourinho’s Europa League winning team, it felt like under Ole, the team was held back to a certain degree.
But what is the style or idea that fans look for? Jose Mourinho’s style brought about trophies, but fans moaned that it was too defensive. In his first 15 games, Ole brought back Fergie time and the rapid counter attacks that were famed in the Rooney-Ronaldo-Tevez team.
Well, now, 3 years into his tenure, Ole is finally getting called out, starting with his indecision in the Europa League finals against Villarreal. Where do they go from here? A man who has remained steadfast with his 4-2-3-1, can he or will he be able to conjure something in the near future?
Liverpool are just purring, Mo Salah in the form of his life.
Liverpool who are a point behind Chelsea, are clicking in tune with both Firmino and Salah in rip roaring form. Firmino who many fans critique for not scoring goals, is playing and finishing well. Mo Salah, who in the 2 game weeks before the Manchester United game, scored 2 phenomenal goal. He is also on a 10 game streak of scoring and it is this form that is powering Liverpool to an almighty march. A hat trick at Old Trafford just shows how great his form is and as long as he remains in this form, Liverpool will be a hard team to stop. Though this is hardly a game for them to be measured against, its arguable, their draw against Man City earlier in the season, was a stronger indication of 2 juggernauts and their ambitions this season.
Elite coaching is the difference
There is a lot of argument between fans that Ole should be given the same credit that Klopp received at the start of his tenure. Klopp revived a sleeping giant, who came close under Brendan Rodgers into the gengepressing monsters they are now. In the same vein, especially after the 15 game run they went, many fans believed Ole was building towards the same direction. But when you look past results and into performance, fans would realize that Klopp had a plan, he had a style and he was slowly building up the pieces as his budget allowed, extracting more than the sum of parts provided. When the final 2 pieces of the jigsaw came – Van Dijk and Alisson – Liverpool were transformed. The only reason Klopp and Liverpool did not managed to win 2 Premier League titles instead of the 1 they waited for 30 years, was that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were simply unplayable and denied them that title. But, in that season, they won the Champions League instead.
In contrast, Ole had 5 semi-finals and went to lose all of it. His players have upgraded, he has steadied the ship, but football is a results business and the result of all of 3 years is an abysmal performance against a brilliant Villarreal side that Unai Emery guided to a victory. At times, the United players looked to be lost in the attacking build up play. Playing off the cuff whilst looking for runs. In the 40min, Rashford made a brilliant run into the box, beating 2 players, but there was nobody on the end for him to pass to for a simple tap in. In defence, United are always making the same mistake. 2 holding midfielders were to protect the back 4, but why would you when you added a serial champions league winner in Raphael Varane? And for all the praise Maguire has received, he has been the most susceptible on 1 v 1s whilst putting his centre back partner in a difficult spot.
The question now becomes – Will United fans accept that the Manchester United way might never exist again, but that would mean challenging for titles. Or will they rather remain steadfast to the philosophy that has brought them unrivalled success under the guidance of football’s most legendary manager.
Written by: Baz
