How a star studded side of elite players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Raphael Varane and the likes have to beg for wins week in and out against lackluster sides has become a puzzle for millions of united fans around the world.
Ralf Rangnick the manager of Manchester United looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 06, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Who could havw imagined this as at the beginning of the season, Manchester United are regarded as title contenders, but have seen the tables turn and now have to fight for a spot in the top four with supposed relegation contenders, Arsenal now ahead of the with three games in hand.
What could have caused the downgrade ?
Do you blame the Manchester United’s Hierarchy or the return of the supposed Messiah in Cristiano Ronaldo ? Or just the adversity and lack of passion for the badge by the supposed players ? Or the unwarranted recognition these players get just because they play for a club as big as Manchester United ?
Woodward has always been in the news for various reasons [particularly negative ones], having seen him spend hundreds of millions on players who can build up the sales of merchandise for the 20 times English champions rather than players that can fit in succinctly into the system.
Who in their right senses buy a center back that has been relegated “four times” from the premier league for 80 million euros which also takes us to the question, if Cristiano Ronaldo is actually needed ?
Concerning the return of the supposed Messiah, getting a brace on his second Manchester United debut really looks like the perfect thing to do to prove to critics that you’re back. However, after scoring four goals in his first five games, and scoring in five consecutive champions’ league group stage matches, Cristiano has found it difficult to keep his good goal scoring record going.
The five times Balon d’Or winner has fired blank in eight of his last nine appearances for Manchester United, including a below par performance against Middleborough, where he missed a penalty in normal time, leading to the subsequent elimination from the FA Cup. Ronaldo has always been phenomenal, so who do we blame. Old age or the malady at the club ?
Moreso, is getting an interim manager before half stage of the season the wisest thing to do ? Manchester United had the chance to appoint Antonio Conte, a serial winner, before Spurs eventually scooped him up, therefore settling with a more administrative minded individual as head coach rather than someone more experienced to take over.
Ralf Rangnick however should not get the blame, besides, he was never given money to get his players in the January transfer window, and has to settle for a 34 year old Serbian, Scottish albino and a not so physical Fred to play in week out in the league of like N’Golo Kante, Rodri, Fabinho, etc. to get results. Well, if that will pay off, we’re still yet to know.
The slight improvement under Ralf Rangnick has rarely been visible and this is because of the dropped in individual performances of the players. Their conversion ratio mostly has dropped since they started creating more under the German.
The lack of passion to wear the United’s shirt by the players might also be affecting the devils in some way, loss of Mason Greenwood and former golden boy Anthony Martial without replacement could also be attributed to the team’s loss of form but even when these players were around, the same seems to be the plight.
Manchester United’s two center forwards have a combined age of 72. They club has had their own share of good years but things cannot be rosy for years, it has to get tough at some point. And while United have their own fair share of turbulent days, one can only hope somebody can save the devils from their own hell.
Will that somebody be Ralf Rangnick ? It remains to be seen.
Author: Al Fuad Sobayo
