3 current problems that Manchester United need to solve

#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.