MANCHESTER UNITED were brought back to earth after Cristiano Ronaldo’s euphoric return by their Champions League defeat to Young Boys.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United squad were given a reality check following their 2-1 loss to the Swiss side this week.
It came as a timely reminder that there is still plenty of work still to do IF United are to have a successful season.
Here, Tom McDermott looks at five areas Solskjaer needs to address to get the team back on track in the Premier League – starting with this weekend’s trip to West Ham United.
Diogo Dalot or Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Wan-Bissaka received a red card in the Champions League defeat which means he’ll face a European suspension, but doubts have been raised about his performances in the Premier League too.
Excellent one-against-one, he does tend to struggle creatively in the final third.
Ronaldo’s arrival means that the delivery from wide must be consistently good, which could see his Portuguese teammate Dalot given an extended run in the starting XI.
Van de Beek time
Donny van de Beek’s international manager Louis van Gaal hinted that the midfielder would need to feature more for his club if he was to break back into the national side.
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We saw a glimpse of what he was capable of in midweek with a rare start, but the former Ajax man was sacrificed shortly after Wan-Bissaka was dismissed.
Van De Beek is intelligent enough to play in the central defensive midfield position but for reasons unknown, Solskjaer doesn’t seem to trust him.
Comfortable on the ball and positionally sound, it’s a mystery to many supporters as to why he hasn’t been given more of a chance.
Play the strongest team
It’s a long old season but the sight of new defensive signing Raphael Varane on the bench can only have helped to increase confidence in the Young Boys dressing room.
Surely the best approach is to get the points on the board and worry about rotation after.
United have a big squad and the only way for Varane and Harry Maguire to develop an intimidating partnership is by playing regularly at home and abroad.
Don’t tinker too much
United were undoubtedly hampered by Wan-Bissaka’s dismissal, but what followed caused some United fans to scratch their heads.
Substitutions at strange times and a low defensive block meant United were waiting to be punished.
You’re the coach!
One of the standout images from the defeat in Switzerland is Ronaldo appearing to instruct the players from the technical area.
It was probably a split-second gesture but it certainly doesn’t give the right impression.
I’ve often felt that under Solskjaer United have too many opinions in and around the dugout at the same time.
Ronaldo’s introduction can only help the fight for trophies but there’s a time and a place for the Portuguese to offer his views.
Three points on the road this weekend and United will feel they’re back on track.
For more of Tom’s views, visit his Twitter account: https://twitter.com/MrTomMcDermott
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
