'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After dominating two decades of English football, Manchester United is doused into the pool of crises and disappointments. When a brand team fails to perform, it is likely to attract criticism. Failure and criticism go in tandem. Today, Manchester United is the victim of it.
Alex Ferguson, who had been the harbinger of Manchester United since 1986 and gave the club a torrent of glories and success, that no club in the near future can surpass, especially in English Premier League. He hung up his boots at the end of the 2012-13 season after clinching yet another trophy for the club and making it England’s second most successful club of all time behind arch-rivals Liverpool.
Since then, things have been completely converse. It would not be wrong to say that the performance of the club has been in shambles. The famed Scot and the United heirarchy earmarked David Moyes to be Ferguson’s successor. But he could not fit in. Results have been egregious under him.
The old adage, which says “Once a fortress is always a fortress” , which used to be applicable to Old Trafford, has been shattered. All clubs are intrepid enough to come and play at Old Trafford, which was completely opposite in the past. Manchester United failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1989-90.
David Moyes was “the chosen one” but unfortunately, could not become “the successful one”. However, at Everton he performed well but was that enough to be Manchester United’s manager?
Manchester United is a brand name in the football business and it requires a manager, who is a risk-taker not risk-averse, alike Sir Alex Ferguson. One sterile season with David Moyes was enough to show him the back door. Although, I pity him because not only he lost his United job but also because of United, he sacrificed his successful career at Goodison Park.
Appointment of a big name manager has not helped so far
Obviously, it is a herculean job at Old Trafford because of the records and epitomes set by Alex Ferguson. This reminded the management of Louis Van Gaal, a highly acclaimed manager, who not only left his mark in Germany with Bayern Munich, but also with Ajax and with Barcelona, not to forget his Netherland’s success.
He is portrayed as the best bet for Man United, which is yet to be proven. After finishing one-third of this season’s games, the team is still struggling. What lies ahead is uncertainty. Is Louis Van Gaal the right choice? Does the problem lie with the management? Will United be the menacing force again? There are innumerable questions hovering around.
All in all, one thing is certain that the players’ confidence has been dented, which needs to be restored soon in order to encore its glories. And this task lies in the very hands of the Dutchman. We can only wait and watch.
