Everyone connected with Manchester United will have been looking inwards after such a damaging defeat and each player needs to find motivation from within to improve, so as not to fade into mediocrity when the high stakes kick in later on in the season. Certainly, it can be difficult for players and managers to come back from such disappointment and that is why Erik ten Hag must now build a strong platform which can boost confidence levels within the squad. Such a platform would serve as an ideal catalyst for future wins and likewise set his team up for sustained success, something many were calling for before last weekend’s game.
Manchester United have had a solid season in the Premier League, but their failure to score more than three goals in any game this season is an indictment of their lack of cutting edge. Instead of pushing for more, they’ve often taken an early lead and then lacked urgency to really finish off the opposition. The recent Carabao Cup final made this point all too clear as United failed to put away a few golden opportunities late on and just settled for being two up at half-time. If they want to build momentum and gain success, they must learn to be much more ruthless when taking leads in big games.
There is a reason Manchester United’s players will be eager to put a team on the back foot in their upcoming fixtures: they must be aching to even out their scoreline and put one over on an opponent. The fact that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men ran up four against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup earlier this season shows they did it once before – and they can do it again. Though nothing like that has happened since, United’s big hitters would love nothing more than to prove themselves with a emphatic display of firepower at any given time. A consistent threat whether playing home or away, this team are as hungry for victory now as ever, and if no opportunity for revenge presents itself soon there is every chance one will arrive later down the line of the season – provided those recent setbacks don’t turn out to have been too damaging after all.
