Three statues stand outside Manchester United’s Old Trafford. Two of them pay homage to the club’s esteemed Scottish managers, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson, while the other statue commemorates the iconic trio who helped revive the club after the tragic 1958 plane crash, which claimed the lives of 23 out of 38 passengers, including players, coaching staff, and press members. This trio of players, warmly referred to as the United Trinity or the Holy Trinity, are Sir Bobby Charlton, Dennis Law, and George Best. Not only did they lead the club to its first European Cup (Champions League) a decade after the crash, each player also won the Ballon d’Or in the 1960s, making Manchester United the first club to produce three different Ballon d’Or winners. Their legacy sets a lofty standard for Red Devils who have come after them, with only the elite achieving such heights. It’s 2024 and two teenagers & a 21-year-old Dane are instrumental to efforts to restore the club to its former glory following the mediocrity that has seeped through the club since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013; Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Højlund.
**How Manchester United have regressed within a year** Last year under Erik ten Hag, the club made a deep run in the Europa League, went all the way to the FA Cup finals (though they lost), won the EFL Cup, and best of all, clinched their spot back in the Champions League with a third place finish in the league. Sure, it wasn’t always smooth sailing, especially with the whole Cristiano Ronaldo drama, but overall, it was a solid debut year for Erik ten Hag. However, fast forward to this season, and it’s been a real letdown for the Red Devils, especially for many whose pre-season betting tips centered around a title challenge for them. They were poor in the Champions League, crashing out in the group stage. Plus, they’re languishing in 6th place in the Premier League, risking missing out on next season’s Champions League. To make matters worse, they’ve already suffered a whopping 11 league losses, just one shy of tying their worst record in a single Premier League campaign, which dates back to Moyes’ 2013/14 era and Solskjaer-Rangnick’s joint effort in 2021/22. With 10 games left, there’s a good chance ten Hag’s squad could surpass that mark. **Injuries** The Red Devils’ dismal season can be chalked up to a myriad of reasons, with injuries being one of them. Just look at the stats: Luke Shaw has only featured in 15 out of Man Utd’s 39 games this season (that’s 38.5%), Aaron Wan-Bissaka isn’t faring much better with just 17 appearances (43.6%), and Lisandro Martinez has only managed 10 (25.6%). These three were the backbone of Manchester United’s defense last season, making up three-quarters of the starting back-line. So, it’s no surprise that having them sidelined for more than half the season has taken its toll on the club’s performance. And it’s not just the defense feeling the pinch. New signing Mason Mount has been plagued by injuries too, seeing action in only 12 out of 39 games since joining (that’s 30.7%). As for Luke Shaw’s backup, Tyrell Malacia, he hasn’t seen a single minute of play this season due to a knee injury that required major surgery. The less said about Anthony Martial’s 6 starts in all competitions, the better. **Underwhelming tactics** That said, blame for Manchester United’s disappointing season must largely fall on Erik ten Hag’s shoulders. While the injury crisis has undoubtedly thrown a wrench into the works, there’s been a noticeable dip in coaching quality from him and his team. Right from the get-go, in the season opener against Wolves, the Red Devils’ midfield seemed like a leaky faucet, allowing wave after wave of attacks, with Wolves registering a staggering 23 shot attempts at Old Trafford. Man Utd were lucky to escape with 3 points in that game but as the season progressed, those same issues persisted and led them to their current position. In the Premier League alone, they’ve conceded a whopping 467 shots across 28 games — only relegation battlers, Sheffield United and Luton Town have let in more. Manchester United’s defense also has the most blocked shots (145), with Sheffield United (139) and West Ham (135) trailing closely behind. For perspective, none of the teams currently in the top 5 in the Premier League standings rank in the top 10 in either of those categories. This highlights the constant pressure Manchester United’s defense has been under all season, and you could make an argument that players like Andre Onana, who has the second most clean sheets among goal-keepers (8), as well as Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot, Victor Lindelöf, Raphaël Varane, and Jonny Evans deserve some credit for keeping the team afloat in 6th place. When a problem persists for seven months straight, there’s only one person left to point fingers at — the manager.
**The bright spots so far** Amidst the darkness of this dismal season, there’s a glimmer of hope shining through, hinting at the possibility of brighter days ahead. Off the field, the INEOS Group, spearheaded by Manchester’s very own Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has taken the reins with a partial takeover of the club. As one of their first moves, they’ve brought in a new CEO, Omar Berrada, and are on the brink of appointing Dan Ashworth as the new Sporting Director. These key hires signal a potential shift in the club’s trajectory. With their expertise, they’re expected to overhaul the scouting and recruitment processes, as well as tackle the wastage of resources (like we’ve seen on players like Antony) that has plagued Manchester United since 2013. It’s a step in the right direction, offering a glimmer of hope for fans amidst the current storm.
What’s truly significant, however, is the emergence of **Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Højlund.** These three players have quickly become integral parts of the squad, and despite occasional inconsistencies, there’s a sense of optimism that with time, they’ll mature into polished footballers. With the right coaching, patience, and strategic recruitment around them, these players could very well represent the future of the club. It’s about nurturing their talent and allowing them to flourish within the team structure. **18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo** is a young midfielder with maturity beyond his age. Among the key mental attributes prized by top-class footballers are decision-making and composure, and Mainoo possesses these qualities in abundance. His recent winning goal against Wolves in last month’s 4-3 nail-biter not only secured him the Goal of the Month award, but also served as a showcase of his talents. With remarkable composure on the ball, lightning-quick footwork, the ability to outmanoeuvre opponents when necessary, and a skilfully placed finish, Mainoo showed why he’s one of the brightest wonderkids on the planet. **Alejandro Garnacho** may not boast the same level of polish or composure as Mainoo. In fact, his decision-making has often been a weak point. However, one could argue that his most valuable quality is his mental resilience. Despite occasional slip-ups, Garnacho possesses a seemingly boundless determination and a remarkable ability to quickly learn and move on from mistakes. Much like his idol Cristiano Ronaldo during his early days at Manchester United, Garnacho is a raw talent with an unwavering self-belief. It’s true that Garnacho’s intense admiration for Ronaldo can sometimes border on obsession, which hasn’t always sat well with his Argentine teammates for obvious reasons. But if there’s one player worth emulating, it’s Ronaldo. Since late October, the Argentine Winger has started all the games for the club, demonstrating his importance to the team. His overhead-kick goal against Everton, a certainty to win Goal of the Season award, serves as a shining example of how he can conjure magic out of thin air. Literally. And in Sunday’s F.A Cup quarterfinal against Liverpool, it was his lung-bursting run (after 120 minutes of high-stakes football) that set up the eventual winner. **Rasmus Højlund** is riding high after a remarkably productive February, which culminated in him winning the Player of the Month award in the Premier League. While the Danish striker made waves with an impressive tally of 5 Champions League goals in just 6 group stage matches, his journey in the Premier League had a sluggish start as he failed to score in his first 14 EPL matches. However, he’s since hit his stride with a stunning turnaround, notching an impressive 7 goals in just 6 games. This surge in form has taken his season tally to 13 goals across all competitions, with many predicting that he could one day find himself in the class of the EPL top scorers.
The overwhelming football prediction among online betting fans as well as members of the club is that this trio could serve as crucial building blocks for a much-needed rebuild. However, the puzzle wouldn’t be complete without identifying the right supporting cast around them, as well as the ideal manager to harness their potential to the fullest. It’s a challenge that Omar Berrada and Dan Ashworth will undoubtedly face as they steer Manchester United towards a brighter future. When Mikel Arteta returned to Arsenal in 2019, he didn’t find things so easy, especially with an “old guard” that seemed a bit too comfortable with the club’s underperformance. Yet, Arteta identified three young talents to build the new team around: **Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Martin Ødegaard.** It took a few years and considerable investment in other positions, but with these players as the focal point, Arsenal seem to have completed their rebuild and have ushered in a new era for the club. Much like how Manchester United have identified the best route to sustained success with these three players, choose the best betting site in Nigeria for the best chance at betting success! [Register with us today](https://m.betking.com/account/registration) to get value for your money and claim your rewards, starting with our new[ “Bet and Get 600,000” welcome offer!](https://m.betking.com/help/bet-and-get-n-600-000)