3 current problems that Manchester United need to solve

Manchester United suffered a damning and embarrassing blow after being knocked out to Sevilla, at Old Trafford, in the Champions League round of 16.

It is fair to say that Vincenzo Montella’s men deserve to go through based on their gutsy performance, but the Red Devils limped out timidly without showing any desire or fight to take the game to the Spanish side.

Everything was so tepid and lacklustre throughout both ties - a common theme that has been underlined this season by José Mourinho’s team’s performances.

Here are three things that are at the centre of Manchester United’s problems.

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#1 Alexis Sánchez at left wing

Alexis Sánchez has struggled since coming to Manchester United in January

Signing Alexis Sánchez from Arsenal looked to be fantastic business by Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman of Manchester United, especially ahead of their cross-town rivals Manchester City, who were also in for him.

The Chilean has been one of the Premier League’s best players since arriving from Barcelona in 2014, but he has struggled initially since coming to Manchester. That is no major surprise, given winter signings take longer to adapt to a new club midway through the season, having to get to grips with their new team’s players and philosophy.

However, Mourinho’s incessant use of Sánchez at left wing is worrying, because it is stifling the progression of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in that position. The former Gunner has not excelled on the left wing and is trying to cut inside to operate in a No. 10 role practically every time he receives the ball.

By doing so, the Red Devils have very limited width due to Ashley Young’s nervousness to attack fully and Sánchez’s unorthodox approach to the wing.

The Chilean hasn't played a major part in his 10 matches so far for United, only managing to score once having featured in a minimum of 80 minutes per game. It is a disappointing return, but not one that should cause serious concern moving forward into the new season. Sánchez is likely to rekindle his form with a good pre-season camp at the club, instead of going to the World Cup.

With United now only in one competition where they can compete for a trophy, Mourinho should rotate between Rashford and Martial to occupy the left wing and move Sánchez in-field to sit on the shoulder of Lukaku. The Chilean is eager to play through the middle so let him do so.

#2 Lack of cojones

Manchester United have been largely inconsistent this season with their performances

For a club of United’s stature, no matter the manager, they should never have been entering that game against Sevilla in the manner in which they did. Bar a few players – Eric Bailly, David de Gea and Romelu Lukaku – everyone else looked frightened of stepping out onto the pitch and taking responsibility.

The fact that Mourinho set his team up in a way that was so negative was a betrayal of the club’s policies. United fans are so used to seeing this team attack, attack and attack some more at Old Trafford, that it was insulting to them to attempt to play this brand of football in a knockout Champions League game.

While the Red Devils cannot go toe-to-toe against the real big hitters of Europe, they should have swatted their Spanish opponents to one side and made it into the quarterfinals. That is not coming from a place of English arrogance either; it is coming from the fact that United, when they did attack, had Sevilla scrambling back, struggling to contain the fruitful attacking players of the Manchester-based club.

However, too infrequently did Mourinho’s side actually attack in the return leg. Sevilla took full advantage of their laxness and punished the Red Devils with two goals in quick succession. Only then did the Portuguese coach’s men looked to turn up with a challenge and tried to increase the tempo. The fact that United have to concede goals to turn up in some games is atrocious.

There is a lack of leaders in this current Manchester United side, and a problem that desperately needs to be fixed. It is an easy path to spiral downwards and become out of touch with the elite teams in England and Europe - a journey United look like they are getting sucked into.

The Red Devils have to start acting like the heavyweight club they are instead of this timid and shy team that can barely string passes together.

#3 Romelu Lukaku isolation

Romelu Lukaku simply cannot do it all on his own

While the Belgian international might have struggled recently at Manchester United, he is quickly becoming a fan’s favourite after showing passion, desire and humility since the turn of the year.

Lukaku has been a breath of fresh air in his recent performances, especially against Chelsea and Liverpool, where he was instrumental in both wins. The former Everton centre-forward has never shied away from his duties and took part-responsibility for the loss to Sevilla in the midweek European game.

However, the Belgian should bare no criticism for the way he has been playing. If you watch closely, and over the course of 90 minutes, you will see a striker who is constantly running into channels, demanding the ball, only to see it passed sideways or sent elsewhere. Lukaku will chase after everything, but he is finding himself incredibly isolated up front.

At times this season, United’s centre-backs have picked the easy option of lumping the ball up into the space that Lukaku occupies. Not always directly to him, the ball ends up in his vicinity and he is expected to work some magic to build an attack from it. He has done that on occasions, but there is no chance that a centre-forward can consistently do it over the course of the game.

When the Belgian receives the ball, there is rarely any players making runs in-behind defences, stretching the opposition and creating space. Instead, they remain in line with Lukaku and remain reluctant to bombard forward.

For all of his excellence this season - 24 goals and eight assists in 43 appearances – Lukaku simply cannot do it on his own. He needs help and he needs his teammates to take responsibility and emulate the selflessness that the Belgian shows them.