'%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,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQf/2gAIAQEAAAAAlTv/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAECEAAAADf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAhEAACAQIGAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEEgAFESIyQRQhUf/aAAgBAQABPwBqGjGQSQeNOmYCnEtrwxlCwdbxffrx16+YYZgrEQCQRA7OA29esf/EABcRAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACERP/2gAIAQIBAT8A3aU//8QAGhEAAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgMAEQESkf/aAAgBAwEBPwBry1G65if/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United are currently at their lowest ebb following last Wednesday’s Champions League elimination at the hands of Sevilla. The Old Trafford outfit started the 2017/18 season with so much promise, having made huge investments, but are yet to really reap the benefits.
The arrivals of Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, Victor Lindelof and later Alexis Sanchez was expected to spur the club on in both the Premier League and Europe.
However, as it stands the Red Devils are currently out of the Premier League title race with Manchester City having a 16-point lead at the top of the table. Also, with their Champions League campaign over, it looks like there is not much for United fans to look forward to for the remainder of the season.
The onus now lies with Jose Mourinho and his men to finish the campaign on a high and avoid what would be a crisis going into the 2018/19 season.
Here are the 5 things Manchester United need to do to save their season:
#5 Win the FA Cup
Manchester United do not have much to play for in the current season. However, the club still has the chance to avoid going trophyless when the season comes to an end.
There is the FA Cup, where the Red Devils will be facing Brighton & Hove Albion in the quarter-final on Saturday evening. Jose Mourinho and his players must try to finish the season on a high and they can give their fans something to cheer about if they are able to lift the FA Cup trophy.
With the club already out of the Premier League title race, the FA Cup really offers a realistic chance of them ending the season with silverware. Fortunately, the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool have been eliminated and the only teams that really stand in the way of the Red Devils are Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
But if the Red Devils really want to save their season, then they have no other choice than to go all out and win the FA Cup.
#4 Finish second in the Premier League
Many have spoken about how that damaging defeat to Sevilla in the Champions League could take a toll on the remainder of Manchester United’s season. However, Jose Mourinho’s charges have no option but to finish the season at least as runners-up in the Premier League.
Runaway leaders Manchester City may have already wrapped up the title but United must make it a point to finish ahead of the chasing pack. The new rules from UEFA indicate that the teams that finish from first to fourth in Europe’s top four leagues gain automatic qualification for the Champions League.
However, after Manchester United’s rather disappointing performance this season, finishing second should be a non-negotiable goal. Anything less would be considered a failure, especially as they are currently four points clear of Tottenham Hotspur, who sit in third-place.
#3 Retain Jose Mourinho
Manchester United’s poor season has culminated in a section of the club’s fans calling for the sacking of manager Jose Mourinho. However, sacking the Portuguese now could lead the Old Trafford club into a crisis situation.
Despite Mourinho’s unimpressive tactics, there are very few managers on the market currently, who fit the profile of a proper Manchester United manager. Therefore, it is only wise to allow the former Chelsea boss to handle first-team duties at least until the end of the season.
There is no doubt that Mourinho has failed to live up to the expectations of the fans following last season's trophies but the Portuguese still remains the best man for the Old Trafford hot seat until another man better than him is found.
Rushing to bring in another manager at this point in the season could further derail the club’s already faltering campaign, as a lot more pressure would be on the players and the new manager to deliver.
#2 Get Paul Pogba firing again
One of Manchester United’s biggest problems this season has been the erratic form of record-signing Paul Pogba. The France international has shown two sides this season; a player who pulls his teammates along when on song, and a player who fails to show up at the most important of times.
Against Arsenal at the Emirates this season, the 25-year-old gave his best performance in a Manchester United shirt, however, he has since failed to reach those heights in recent times.
The signing of Nemanja Matic was supposed to give the former Juventus anchorman the license to dominate games, however, he has struggled to give out his best despite the presence of the Serbian midfielder.
If United really want to save their season, then Jose Mourinho needs to get Pogba firing.
Pogba is the star of this Manchester United team and the best games the Red Devils have played this season have been the ones in which the Frenchman was at his best.
#1 Address defensive frailties
One major problem that has led to Manchester United’s poor season is their defensive frailty. The Red Devils boast of one of the best attacks in the Premier League, but the lack of consistency at the back is what has prevented the side from genuinely challenging for the top honours.
The return of Eric Bailly has brought renewed hope, but pairing the Ivorian with Chris Smalling looks like a total mismatch due to the England international’s poor decision making.
Also, Victor Lindelof has failed to replicate the form that saw Manchester United shell out upwards of £30 million to acquire his services.
With the FA Cup and second-place in the Premier League to fight for, the Red Devils will need to address their defensive problems or risk seeing their season totally shattered.
