United have a loose philosophy and style of play, based largely on their electric front five. But they entrust too much to good feelings and blind faithThis, as José Mourinho might drily observe, is football heritage.To lose one semi-final might be considered unfortunate. To lose two a coincidence. But in United’s third unsuccessful attempt to grease their season with silverware could be identified a clear pattern running through the club. It is not a problem that can be solved by signing Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish. Rather, it is something more systemic and deep-rooted, a malaise that took years to set in and may well take years to cure. Related: Luuk de Jong sinks Manchester United and puts Sevilla in...
After producing a leaner, fitter, infinitely more watchable side the manager wants to make the most of chance to beat Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finalIt was probably just the heat that prompted Ole Gunnar Solskjær to go for the controlled casual look in Manchester United’s last game against Copenhagen, though there was no mistaking that the figure sitting alone in the dugout in white shirtsleeves looked cooler and more relaxed than his more animated counterpart, Ståle Solbakken.Perhaps that is no big deal, though Solskjær at the moment can arguably do relaxed better than Jürgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola. Less than two years after returning to Manchester United as manager he is almost at the Carlo Ancelotti level of detached...
Chelsea under their former player are regularly being undone on the counter, leaking goals in a manner that suggests Manchester United could take advantage in FA Cup semi-finalO n the opening weekend of the Premier League season, Chelsea went to Old Trafford, controlled possession for long periods, hit the woodwork twice and were beaten 4-0, shredded on the break again and again. The pattern for Frank Lampard’s first season in the Premier League was immediately set: Chelsea, good with the ball; not so good when they lose it. They have lost twice more to Manchester United since and, on Sunday afternoon, face them again in an FA Cup semi-final.Lampard is widely considered to have had a decent campaign. Even with...
Manchester United’s home-produced forward is 18 and scoring for fun. The post-pandemic mini-season is the perfect time to be a teenage prodigyAt times this week it has been tempting, but not that tempting, to feel a bit sorry for Mason Greenwood. Brilliant teenage striker plays for Manchester United. Brilliant teenage striker scores in three league games in a row. Brilliant teenage striker has a way of moving around the pitch that suggests he’s playing with the benefit of a half-second delay, a man with a slightly more refined understanding of angles and gravity.Meanwhile the world outside has turned into a pre-zombie apocalypse montage sequence. The Euro has been cancelled. And large parts of the country are sitting around losing themselves...
The midfielder failed to seize his chance against Norwich and his time at Manchester United might be running outThere was a moment early on in Manchester United’s drawn-out win at Norwich when Jesse Lingard picked up the ball on the edge of the box, feinted right, jinked left and, with a rapid shuffle of his feet, glided past Timm Klose. It was a welcome reminder of the player he used to be. What followed in a generally drab United performance was a less welcome reminder of the player he has been over the past year.It was only last June that Lingard was having a goal for England against the Netherlands in the Nations League semi-final ruled out for the tightest...