Can the Red Devils **contend** for the Premier League title in the upcoming season? Absolutely! It is within their capability, and it is the expectation. During a few weeks last season, they seemed to be in the title race, even if only mathematically. Unfortunately, they couldn't fully bounce back from Casemiro's suspensions and ultimately fell out of contention. Can they actually win the Premier League title and finally put an end to their decade-long wait? Answering that requires a more intricate analysis. Indeed, as mentioned earlier, when discussing [Arsenal's chances of winning the title](https://m.betking.com/blog/news/arteta-s-big-summer-and-the-quest-to-dethrone-man-city/), history favors Manchester City to some extent. Only one of the previous nine treble winners failed to retain their domestic league title the following year, and that exception was Inter Milan in the 2010/11 season, attributed to the departure of manager José Mourinho to Real Madrid. So, looking at it from this perspective, Manchester City has historical precedent on their side. However, history is also working against them as winning the league title four years in a row has never been accomplished in the 135 years of English football. This places a significant challenge before Manchester City, making the task they face unprecedented and extremely difficult. A closer look reveals why other teams may feel optimistic about their chances against Manchester City. Notably, the departures of experienced players İlkay Gündoğan (to Barcelona) and Riyad Mahrez (to Al Ahli), along with the potential exits of Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva, could impact the club's title prospects. Even though Manchester City still boasts world-class talents like Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Rodri, the slight dip in quality due to these departures and the sheer mental toll of such a historic achievement in front of them might pose a challenge for the defending champions. This situation opens up opportunities for other teams, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and even Newcastle United, who might see a chance to capitalize on the situation. So, can Manchester United win the league title? To stand a chance of doing this, they will need to focus on two crucial aspects: first, building upon their strengths from the previous season, and second, addressing any weaknesses. While it’ll be tough to win it, we believe they can replicate last season’s performance by making the top 4 and one of our betting tips is for them to do just that.
**Building on Their Strengths** **Defensive Solidity** Despite being at the end of some embarrassing heavy defeats - 4-0 to Brentford, 6-3 to Manchester City and 7-0 to Liverpool - Manchester United were a sound defensive unit. They only conceded 43 goals, which tied them with Arsenal for the joint-third best, and the three aforementioned defeats accounted for 39.5% of the total goals conceded. Their 17 clean sheets in the Premier League were the most, and enough to earn David de Gea the Golden Glove award. In all competitions, the Red Devils kept 26 clean sheets which was the second most in Europe’s top 5 leagues. This defensive solidity was attributed to the summer signings of Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro, who bolstered the team's talented but underperforming defensive unit. Their contributions, alongside outstanding campaign by Luke Shaw and the improved health of Raphaël Varane, laid the foundation for an impressive debut season for Erik ten Hag. During this off-season, Manchester United [parted ways with David de Gea](https://m.betking.com/blog/news/david-de-gea-leaves-manchester-united/), who, despite winning the Golden Glove award, displayed clear signs of decline with multiple costly errors. To replace him, the Red Devils have acquired Andre Onana from Inter. The former Cameroonian international has previously worked with Erik ten Hag during their time together at Ajax, where they won six titles. Onana had an impressive run in the Champions League for Inter, guiding them to their first Champions League final appearance in a decade and recording the most clean sheets (7) in the competition. Given his familiarity with Erik ten Hag's preferred style of play, it is expected that Andre Onana will further enhance Manchester United's already solid defensive unit. Our bet of the day is for Man Utd to win a cup next season, precisely the FA Cup, and we priced this at 11.00
**Erik ten Hag’s Adaptability** Erik ten Hag defies the Dutch coaching stereotype, as he doesn't rigidly stick to a certain style of play and will adjust when faced with adversity. While he has an ideal playing style, evident from his time at Ajax, he has shown a readiness to adapt to the traditional English style and the players at his disposal. For instance, when the team suffered a 4-0 defeat against Brentford with a slow build-up approach, he swiftly abandoned it, opting rather to reintroduce it later. During Rashford's injury/dip in goal-scoring form, ten Hag adopted a more defensive strategy, securing narrow wins, and when the team faced challenges like Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, and Anthony Martial's persistent injuries, he explored alternative goal-scoring options. Last season, Pep Guardiola's Man City faced multiple problems with their fullback position. In response, Guardiola adapted by shifting to a 3-2-4-1 system, relying less on the fullback role, which resulted in a historic treble victory. Erik ten Hag's ability to similarly adapt to any challenge that arises during the season will be crucial for Manchester United's quest to win the title from their rivals, as they are certain to face various hurdles along the way. **Marcus Rashford Having A Career-Year** The 2022/23 season was a memorable one for academy graduate, Marcus Rashford. After a decent first half of the season that saw him score just 8 goals, the English forward burst into life after a productive Qatar World Cup with 22 goals in the second half of the season, helping the Red Devils make three deep cup runs, reaching two finals and winning one. The 30-goals scored by Rashford were the most in one season for the Englishman, and he earned a spot in the PFA Team of the Season. It is essential for the club to effectively harness Rashford's goal-scoring prowess. Due of the lack of a fit/productive striker, they often deployed him in the Number 9 role, where he struggled to perform at his best. In a recent interview with Gary Neville, Rashford expressed his preference for playing on the left, and statistical data supports this choice. To build on Rashford's productive 2022/23 season, it is crucial for Erik ten Hag to resist the temptation of playing him out of position. Ensuring his preferred role on the left could be key to unlocking his potential and further contributing to Manchester United's success in the upcoming seasons. @25.00, we have an irresistible betting offer for our online sports betting enthusiasts for Rashford to be named PFA Player of the Year.
**Addressing Their Weaknesses** **Lack of Scoring Options** Manchester United faced goal-scoring difficulties in the league last season, despite Marcus Rashford's best effort. Their tally of 58 goals scored placed them joint-seventh in the league, on par with 9th place Brentford. In stark contrast, Manchester City netted 94 league goals, while Arsenal scored 88, and these are the levels clearly required to win the league in England. While the club appears poised to sign Rasmus Højlund from Atalanta, it's essential to acknowledge that he is just 20 years old, and so, expectations have to be moderate. Højlund showcased his potential with 5 goals and 3 assists in 6 matches for SK Sturm Graz, earning him a late August move to Atalanta, where he contributed 11 goals and 4 assists in 36 appearances across all competitions for the Serie A side. Should Manchester United secure Højlund's services, he is expected to enjoy a promising career at Old Trafford. However, it is fair to assume that the upcoming season would be too early for the Danish forward to lead the team to a league title. The club may need to rely on other resources or established goal-scorers to address their immediate goal-scoring challenges and contend for the league championship and this, perhaps, is the biggest reason they likely won’t win it. **Poor Squad Rotation** Last season, Erik ten Hag achieved many successes at Man Utd, notably restoring Old Trafford as a formidable home ground. However, his major criticism centered on his limited player rotation, primarily relying on changes forced by injuries or suspensions. Though he initially provided equal opportunities for players to stake a claim in the starting lineup, it appeared he rarely turned to those deemed not good enough unless necessary. The Dutch manager was also guilty of playing Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, two of the team's top attackers, out of position and this negatively impacted their attacking output. To win in a schedule-packed English league, squad rotation is vital, as both Pep Guardiola and Sir Alex Ferguson can attest to. This is an aspect that Erik ten Hag must improve on if he aims to lead Manchester United to victory. Is it possible for Manchester United to win the league title? The odds may not favor them, but they have the capability to launch a strong and credible challenge for the title. However, BetKing provides the best odds on Erik ten Hag doing just that, and at 12.00, those are high odds that other betting sites can’t match.