Manchester United fans did not need a reminder, but the weekend defeat by Arsenal was just further confirmation that the team Eric ten Hag Legacy will not play in the Champions League next season. A place in the top continental club competition is reserved for the first four teams in the Premier League.
This campaign has no argument to suggest that United is one of them. Instead, United may have to deal with the horrific reality of European football on Thursday night and a poor schedule that will test their team to the extreme next season.
From Saturday’s clash with the Emirates, it was clear that United were simply preparing as they waited for the season to finally end; although for a select few, the last four games could and should be the beginning of their campaigns. United’s performance was lethargic, lacking passion and pride, and it seems certain that the same grim events will follow in the final weeks of the season, unless a new injection of hunger and desire emerges.
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It can often be a lazy statement to suggest that the team need to attract young players to give an answer, but in the case of United this is a valid argument at the moment and further fueled by an exciting harvest of young people waiting for a chance to showcase their talents. .
Although it was a bad high-level year this season, at least there was reason for supporters to be proud of the academy. United have to play their first FA Youth Cup final in 11 years when they face Nottingham Forest next month and the club made an impression when they won their group for the Youth League at the end of last year. Both U23 and U18 are in fourth place in their respective leagues, something the seniors would certainly take at the moment.
Last week, Hannibal Maybri demonstrated his desire to fight with a true cameo against Liverpool. The 19-year-old Tunisian national team player may have been a bit reckless, but fans would rather watch a player who is clearly doing his best in the final weeks of the season than players who are thinking of leaving just in the summer.
Alejandro Garnacho missed the Under-23 match with Arsenal on Friday night to travel with the seniors to London to face the same opposition. At the age of 17, it is understandable why United are wary of throwing him on the field in such a key match, although he certainly deserves to make his debut in one of the final matches.
In the absence of Garnacho last week, Shola Shoretire impressed the U23s with a 1-1 draw with Arsenal. He has already made his senior debut and his draw could give fans new hope that the future remains bright at Old Trafford. Noam Emeran, who is due to sign a new extended contract and leave on loan this summer, also shone in the youth team’s draw, scoring United’s only goal.
James Garner is expected to get a chance under Ten Hague when he arrives this summer, and as United identify the need for at least two signings in midfield, the Nottingham Forest mercenary could provide an in-house solution to an area of the field. needs major repairs.
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The signing of a new full-back is also of interest to United and again a youngster can offer a solution. Alvaro Fernandez, 19, shone throughout the season on the youth team and can no longer be avoided after Alex Teles’ latest defensive horror show in the absence of Luke Shaw.
The harsh reality is that Fernandez himself is also struggling with the defensive aspect of his game and no improvement over Teles is guaranteed. But in the end, he needs a chance to prove he can, and his promotion will be another silver line in front of the storm clouds that currently cover Old Trafford.
With a history of young players developing unsurpassed in the world game, it’s always easy to assume that United should give youngsters a chance, but once their season is almost over, there’s really no excuse not to experiment.
United may not have won anything with the children, but they have not won anything with their senior stars.
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