Manchester United have had the shortest run of the season ever. Last season ended with the Europa League and semi-final against Sevilla on 16 August.
Later, one trouble after another has appeared. Only this week have all the players been back at the Carrington training facility. And on Saturday awaits the premiere against Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
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– All in all, it is probably a headache for Solskjær this week, says Tyrone Marshall, commentator in Manchester Evening News.
– There is a limited amount of time you have to work with tactical plans before the season starts. United’s schedule will include two games almost every week this season.
The Europa League became both a friend and an enemy. It was the team’s last chance to win a trophy this season. When that did not happen, other teams that did not participate in European games got more quality holidays.
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When Solskjær’s players first got a holiday from the club, several problems arose that affect the preparations:
- Captain Harry Maguire got into a fight on the holiday island of Mykonos.
- Paul Pogba tested positive for covid-19.
- Mason Greenwood invited the lady in the room between two English internationals and was thrown out of the squad.
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka had to be quarantined after an ill-considered Dubai holiday.
– The drive-up has been incoherent, declares left-back Luke Shaw.
– When we started up again after the holiday, there were only four players in training. There have been quarantines and international matches, so it has been very difficult for us.
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Shaw dropped the words to Manchester United’s TV channel on Saturday. The team had just lost 1-0 to Aston Villa.
This was the first and last training match before the start of the series against Crystal Palace. But for the match, 17 names were missing who could normally join the squad.
Reason: Injuries, quarantine, assignments for each national team and one birth. Bruno Fernandes has become a father for the second time.
Out
Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst has gone through the players who were missing against Aston Villa, which was played behind closed doors. Here we find, among others, David de Gea and Anthony Martial.
Furthermore, these were not included:
Paul Pogba, Axel Tuanzebe, Victor Lindelöf, Andreas Pereira, Mason Greenwood, Sergio Romero, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Fred, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata og Bruno Fernandes.
Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo were left out because they are on their way away.
Turns heads
Among the guys who played was the new acquisition from Ajax, Donny van de Beek. Dean Henderson also came in, the goalkeeper who has been brought back from Sheffield United.
– We sometimes played very good football. But we lacked the sharpness and lung capacity. It’s still early. And we need to become more clinical. But the result was not the most important thing this time, says Solskjær.
The question is still whether Manchester United is well enough equipped to take up the match against Liverpool and Manchester City.
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– I think there is reason for the United supporters to be optimistic, says football expert Mina Finstad Berg in TV 2.
– The team appeared better when Bruno Fernandes came in last season. Now Donny van de Beek is also in place, a player I think it has been fun to follow in Ajax. I’m excited about how they’ll use him. He can have several positions.
– But, Finstad Berg continues:
– Basically, I think they are also looking for a left back and a stopper. Jadon Sancho has been a saga that has followed us all summer. It’s a question of price. And one place crosses the border.
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United legend and football expert Gary Neville also believes the club needs two or three more players.
– If they get damaged, they do not have enough quality and depth. I think Ole’s goal is to split the two top teams (Liverpool and City). If he does not do so this season, he must at least show that United are approaching.
We will get the first answers on Saturday.
PREMIER LEAGUE
| Arsenal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | – | 0 | 3 |
| Leicester | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | – | 0 | 3 |
| Chelsea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | – | 1 | 3 |
| Newcastle | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | – | 0 | 3 |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | – | 0 | 3 |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | – | 3 | 3 |
| Crystal Palace | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | 0 | 3 |
| Everton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | 0 | 3 |
| Aston Villa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| Burnley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| Manchester C. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| Manchester U. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| Leeds | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | 0 |
| Southampton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 |
| Tottenham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 |
| Brighton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 3 | 0 |
| Sheffield U. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 |
| West Ham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 |
| Fulham | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 3 | 0 |
| West Bromwich | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 3 | 0 |
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