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Manchester United has recently become a shadow of its past. The flair, tenacity, and never-say-die attitude associated with the club during the Sir Alex Ferguson era has been lacking since his departure.
While it remains a mammoth task to fill the boots of Sir Alex, the million dollar question is whether or not Manchester United will regain lost ground.
Ferguson's successors have failed to make any positive impact, despite the club winning a maiden Europa League title under Jose Mourinho in 2017. After a string of poor results in the EPL this year, Mourinho was sacked, and the baton was passed to club-legend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
As Solskjaer takes the hot seat for his first game against Cardiff, there are 3 major issues which require immediate attention.
#1 Poor defence
Since the departure of Nemanja Vidić and Rio Ferdinand, the club has failed to build a consistent and robust defence line. To be more precise, the over-reliance on David De Gea has at times proven costly for the team.
The current batch of defenders including Jones, Bailly, and Smalling have been super-inconsistent and injury-prone, which had prompted managers to field players like Herrera and Fellaini in defensive roles. To be a title contender, Manchester United needs a more compact defence line, and that should be the primary concern for Solskjaer.
#2 The Pogba problem
Another issue is Paul Pogba. The player had recently been reported to be in the bad books of Mourinho, which has affected his game on the pitch.
With Mourinho's departure, it is down to Solskjaer to make sure Pogba does not think himself bigger than the club. If that's the case, then only God can help the Norwegian.
#3 Lukaku's consistency
Like the defence, the forwards have failed to impress as well. Lukaku's big-money move to Manchester United was considered one of the major transfers in EPL.
However, the striker has drastically failed to prove his mettle, and has missed open chances, making matters worse. Solskjaer's aim should be to re-install Lukaku's confidence in front of goal, and put the likes of either Rashford or Lingard beside him in the box. Right now, the distance between the front three is solely aiding opponents.
It's just a matter of time before we get to know whether or not Manchester United have solved the puzzle.
So, United fans, keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.
