Premier League 2024-25 team preview: Manchester United

New Delhi: Manchester United had one of the worst performances by their standards in the 2023-24 season. The season was expected to be a turnaround for the club, with Erik ten Hag showing a promising start to his reign at the helm. Despite winning the FA Cup in the season, their in the Premier League was very underwhelming. 

They finished eighth in the points table and missed their place in the Champions League by just eight points, their biggest letdown recently. Of course, they faced some issues, including scoring just 57 goals and conceding 58. Their goal tally was 19 less than that of any teams that qualified for Europe.

The FA Cup was somewhat of a consolation prize and helped the club end the season on a high, beating their city rivals in the finals at Wembley Stadium. It may have increased ten Hag’s tenure in the club, with the Dutchman signing an extension recently at Red Devils. When Jim Ratcliffe arrived as the new owner of Man United, the INEOS chairman, along with his management, were looking at the cracks to fill in the club’s decline from the height. To take the team back to their domestic pinnacle, ten Hag’s performance as the club’s manager was evaluated as well by the management. Ten Hag recently said that all of this was in the past.

One of United’s primary targets for this season is to return to the Champions League. In the Premier League, perhaps a title finish would still be difficult to achieve. Still, the fans and the board will be hoping Ten Hag’s strategies and recruitment in the summer transfer market can bring home a domestic trophy.

Manchester United’s tactical prospects for the 2024-25 season

Ten Hag, being a centre-back himself, has shown emphasis on building play from the back and has given importance to ball-playing centre-backs, who are at ease with possession and are capable of initiating attacks. This helps them to dictate the pace of the game from the defensive third, giving them the power to control the game. The full-backs are crucial as they are the ones pushing high up the pitch and providing attacking options. The centre-backs play an aggressive role to be adept in covering a large amount of the ground and handling counter-attacks. On his return, Harry Maguire was quite impressive in the role, but he is, of course, not the only option in this role.  

There have been some tactical changes in the goalkeeper’s role as well, with Andre Onana often playing as sweeper-keeper. This allows the team to become more effective during build-up play and create numerical advantages when pressing opponents. 

It is the midfield that has seen Ten Hag’s influence the most. The 54-year-old has designed the area of the field with players whose style is flexible between a defensive stance and an attacking threat. The area also has featured playmakers who can dictate the pace of the game. Flanking this setup are two dynamics who are often with opposite playing styles with one covering with a defensive mindset while the other is more likely to support the attack, keeping the tactics of the forward often unpredictable.

The final third under ten Hag has become more fluid and the forward line is constantly exposed to movement and interchanging of positions. The wide forwards are often pushed into drifting inside. This approach can make it difficult for defenders to pick a striker and resist that attack. Plus, the midfielders are often making late runs in the opponent’s box, increasing the pressure on the backline of the opponents. Under ten Hag, United have been more aggressive though very well coordinated. Their pressing tactics aren’t constant but force the opponents to put United in a better position to break through the defences.

Transfer analysis

United’s biggest change this summer has been Ratcliffe’s emphasis on having a good recruitment team. The new team hit the big time with the signing of both Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro. Despite this, they are still looking at Bayern centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, though nothing is yet on paper.

Their biggest exit this season was Raphael Varane leaving Old Trafford with the French centre-back leaving the club at the end of his contract along with his fellow national player Anthony Martial. United also sold their academy graduate and right-winger Mason Greenwood and Willy Kambwala to Marseille and Villareal, respectively. Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek went to Girona after uncertainty with the Premier League club. There is uncertainty with Maguire, Scott McTominay, and Victor Lindelof as well.

If rumours are to be believed, Jadon Sancho has shown keenness to move from Dortmund to PSG after being transferred on loan to the German club this year, and talks between the two clubs are underway. Earlier, they were keen on Manuel Ugarte, but the negotiations with the price quoted haven’t gone United’s way. Barcelona’s central midfielder has also been on Man United’s radar, and Barcelona could be keen on making the sell as well.

Early Prediction: A possible Champions league qualification

United were in their worst phase as a club in the last season. However, they have made some good moves in the summer transfer window, giving Ten Hag a much stronger side than last season. While they are not a side that can be winning the Premier League they can easily qualify for the Champions League. They can make a Europa League appearance, but it all depends on how they perform in the season. It would seem that Ten Hag will bring home a trophy from any of the domestic competitions. Having shown the tactics to perform well in the knockout format of football, United are looking good to defend their FA Cup and could even go on to clinch the League Cup title.

 With a good performance in the US soil, Manchester United would look to turn their fortunes around with Erik ten Hag making some shrewd moves during the transfer window.  Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today