Manchester United's tumultuous season persists following crucial victory over Chelsea
Manchester United's thrilling season continues as they secure a crucial 2-1 victory against Chelsea, adding more fuel to their rollercoaster campaign
Manchester United's season remained unpredictable as they secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Wednesday. Scott McTominay was the star of the night, netting both goals and boosting team morale. Cole Palmer also scored a brilliant finish for Chelsea.
Manchester United's recent win has secured their position in sixth place in the English Premier League, just three points behind Manchester City in fourth. This keeps the club in the running for Champions League qualification and temporarily hides the multitude of ongoing issues they have been facing. Since Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013, the club has struggled with consistency, experiencing challenges both on and off the field.
Five managers have come and gone since then, with Erik ten Hag being the latest to attempt to stabilize the team. With his successful track record at Dutch club Ajax, where he built a strong and successful team, there were high hopes that Ten Hag would be the one to restore Manchester United's dominance.
But, just like those before him, the Dutchman is not having an easy time in changing the narrative that United is a club perpetually stumbling from one crisis to the next.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has yet to steady the ship at the club this season.
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Leading up to the victory against Chelsea, the club was facing another challenge as reports of player dissatisfaction in the dressing room surfaced. According to media sources like ESPN, a group of players at United were feeling disheartened with Ten Hag's methods following the club's 10th loss of the season against Newcastle on Saturday.
Consequently, four journalists were prohibited from attending Ten Hag's pre-match media conference by the club, alleging that they had failed to give United the opportunity to respond to the negative stories.
"We expect them to approach us directly instead of circumventing us and publishing articles. That's not the proper way to handle it," stated Ten Hag.
"If the players have a different opinion, of course I will listen, but they haven't told me. Maybe one or two have, but the majority want to play like this: proactive, dynamic, and brave."
United move to sixth in the English Premier League after the important win.
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The problem of dressing room unity is within Ten Hag's control, but the impending takeover is not. Reports indicate that British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe is close to finalizing a deal for a 25% stake in the club. This potential acquisition has been ongoing for months since the Glazer family announced their plans for new investment or a potential sale of the club last year.
The club's future uncertainty has clearly affected the team's performance on the pitch, resulting in inconsistent form that hinders any sense of progress. This is especially evident in the team's poor performance in the Champions League this season, as they currently sit at the bottom of their group with only one win. Their elimination from the tournament is imminent if they do not secure a win against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, or if there is a winner in the other Group A game between Galatasaray and Copenhagen.
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United acknowledges the supporters following the conclusion of the UEFA Champions League Group A game at RAMS Park in Istanbul. Date of the photo: Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Image by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Nick Potts/PA Images/Getty Images
Manchester United on the brink of an early Champions League exit after chaotic draw against Galatasaray
That said, Uniteds performance against Chelsea was among its better ones this season.
The 2-1 scoreline perhaps flattered the visitor but also pointed to Uniteds wastefulness in front of goal.
During the game, Ten Hag's team took 28 shots, nine of which were on target. Captain Bruno Fernandes had his first-half penalty saved by Robert Sanchez. Striker Rasmus Højlund is yet to score in the Premier League after joining United from Atalanta in August for a reported fee of $87.7 million. Nonetheless, Manchester United delivered a more confident performance, providing a much-needed boost for both the players and the fans.
After securing a valuable win against Chelsea, the team's supporters are optimistic about the team's future performance. However, many remain cautious due to the unpredictable ups and downs of United's season. Next, the team will take on Bournemouth in the Premier League and then face Bayern in a crucial must-win game in the Champions League.
