Manchester United’s compounding problems
Manchester United is not going well in the English Premier League, at this moment. After two decades of total domination, it seems that downfall is right upon Sir Alex Ferguson’s head. Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United, raised the status of his club from average to one of the best clubs in Europe. However, the same person, who brought success to the Red Devils, seems to be out of options.
Currently, United is sitting in fourth place in English Premier League table. However, this has largely been due to the matches being played in Old Trafford, which remains a fortress for the Reds. In away matches, United has failed to achieve a victory in any. On the contrary, Chelsea is going high at the moment, sitting comfortably on top of the Premier League table. In the past, United remained a title contender until the last days of the league, but this season tells a completely different story.
In the beginning, it seemed that Ferguson would only have to face the problem of midfielders in his team. There is only one attacking midfielder in United’s squad, in shape of Nani. Apart from him, the central midfield also lacks true quality. As Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are getting old, the youngsters like Anderson have failed to live up to the expectations. In many matches, United lacked a real presence in the midfield, which resulted in lots of draws for them this season.
Now, the problems are increasing every day, as the season is progressing into critical phase. First, there was news that United has suffered a considerable loss during the past season. This loss was largely due to the wages of United’s players. Even the big money paid by Real Madrid, when they bought Cristiano Ronaldo, was not enough for Manchester United to break even.
If this state of events continues, there are chances that United would not be able to fulfil the new regulations by UEFA. This is something unheard off, if you are a Manchester United fan. So, apart from dealing with the problem of buying a couple of established midfielders, Ferguson would have to keep his books in check as well. Therefore, Ferguson is in a dilemma, as he would have to choose between the devil and the deep sea.
Even these are not the biggest problems being faced by Manchester United. Recently, it was revealed that Wayne Rooney, the striker for England and United, had shown his desire to leave the club. This news has been confirmed by both Rooney and the club officials. As a result of this, Ferguson would have to sell his player in the next transfer window. If he does not do it as soon as possible, he would lose some cash. Also, he would be paying Rooney’s wages without getting anything out of the player. Both these things would put further strain on the financial statement.
Also, Wayne Rooney would have to be replaced by Ferguson as well. Right now, Rooney is the only player in United, who is good enough to produce 20 odd goals in the league. Apart from him, other strikers are not reliable enough for such big job. Therefore, United would be missing a big part of their campaign when Rooney leaves. This vacuum would have to be filled, if Ferguson wants to keep his team in sight of the title.
The only good news for Ferguson, right now, is that Nani is playing better. The young Portuguese midfielder is producing goals occasionally, and providing a lot of assists as well. At this moment, when even the defence is letting Ferguson down, Nani is the best player of Manchester United.
It seems that Manchester United’s downfall has started from this point. It is quite possible that the club fails to qualify for Champions League this season. If that happens, there is nothing but downhill from that moment, similar to what is being happening to Liverpool. Maybe, in a year or two, Manchester United’s current owners would be looking for new owners as well.
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