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Manchester United may be sitting comfortably in third in the Barclays Premier League, but they are certainly far from being the finished article. Louis van Gaal has undergone an uneasy transition since his appointment in the summer, but his philosophy and vision for the way he wants United to play football are beginning to yield results. The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 11 matches and have established themselves as outside contenders for the Premier League title.However, in order to maintain their presence at the table’s summit, Van Gaal must operate shrewdly with the squad he has. Significant investment is unlikely during the January tranfer window so it is time for van Gaal to really show why the United hierarchy have placed so much trust in him.Here are five things United must do to ensure a sucessful second half to the season:
#5 Show their winning mentality in the closing stretch
It is an age-old tradition in football that points become easier to drop as the season nears its conclusion, but that is exactly what has distinguished United in the Premier League era. Van Gaal is no stranger to winning league titles so he knows exactly what is required in the months of April and May.
However, if United maintain the pace currently being set by Manchester City and Chelsea and find themselves in with a shot of reclaiming the Premier League throne, they must exhibit the same kind of mentality that saw them through nip-and-tuck title races like 1999.
It is this characteristic that Van Gaal must summon within his squad to ensure a succesful end to the season.
#4 Avoiding slip-ups at home
One of the key features of Sir Alex Ferguson’s immense career at Manchester United was building Old Trafford as a fortress. An enduring facet of the Fergie era was how difficult it was for a team to travel to Old Trafford and come away with something.
However, the fear factor was ripped away during David Moyes’ time in charge and last season, United’s form collapsed dramatically at home as they frittered away points recklessly in fixtures that would have ben sure-fire victories in years gone by.
Reflecting on the half-season so far, it would be safe to say that Van Gaal has restored some of their former dominance at home, but there is still work to be done. United face tough home fixtures against Southampton, Manchester City and Arsenal in the coming months but it is the more ‘winnable’ games at Old Trafford against teams like Sunderland, Burnley, Leicester City and West Brom that will ultimately decide where the Red Devils end up in the table.
As always, home form is utterly pivotal.
#3 Keep Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria fit
The club’s two marquee acquisitions in the summer, Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria, have both shown flashes of brilliance in their debut campaigns at Old Trafford. And it is imperative to maintain their fitness as we reach the business end of the season.
The Colombian striker was forced to miss nearly two months of action due to injury earlier in the campaign and seriously hindered his education in the Premier League, while Di Maria has more recently been missing due to his own fitness woes. And although United have continued to win games, it is the Argentine’s star quality that can turn draws into wins.
As such, Falcao and Di Maria have seen very little of each other since they joined the club, and maintaining the fitness of both stars will surely bear fruit in the climactic months of the season. Falcao has shown in recent games that he will not shy away from the physical aspect of the English game and with Di Maria’s creativity reinstated in midfield, United could re-establish a glorious outlet for goals.
Having Falcao and Di Maria fit and raring to go alongside club captain Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie would represent a formidable attacking unit that is more than capable of firing United into the Champions League for next season, or maybe more.
#2 Sign a central defender
A position that requires immediate attention is at the heart of defence. It is true that players are difficult to buy in January and it may be that the month will pass by without United investing in any player of note.
That doesn’t change the fact that the club desperately needs to address the problem at centre-half. Injuries have been rife and the form of the defenders, when fit, has also prompted murmurs of discontent from the fans. Jonny Evans has been far from his best for United this season and has thus far failed to mature into the classy replacement for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic many expected he would be.
In addition, persistent injuries to Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Chris Smalling have severely hampered United’s back-line to the point that Van Gaal was forced into promoting two academy players, Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair, into the first-team. Understandably, neither has looked rounded enough to hold down a starting berth amidst the rigours of the Premier League and it is this critical lack of depth in the squad that has highlighted United’s need for a world-class centre-back to ease their defensive woes.
The club have been linked with a host of top-quality defenders but it is down to Van Gaal and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to actively pursue deals and avoid the problems that would inevitably come with defensive frailities in the remainder of the season.
#1 Tie David de Gea down to a new deal
Inarguably, David Dea Gea has been United’s most consistent perormer for the past 18 months. It is his sureheadedness between the sticks that has helped maintain the unbeaten run they are currently enjoying. Rarely does a game go by where the Spaniard is not pulling off a string of world-class saves.
With his form already peaking, the 24-year-old produced a masterful display in the 3-0 defeat of Liverpool in December and prompted lavish praise from all corners of the footballing community. However, with great form comes great speculation, and it wasn’t long before the transfer gossip columns were dedicating several inches to De Gea’s inevitable departure to European giants Real Madrid.
De Gea’s current deal is due to expire in the summer of 2016 and as the season wears on, the rumours are likely to intensify. A possible consequence of stalled or inactive contract negotations would be for the keeper to become increasingly distracted, directly affecting his form on the pitch.
With the club reportedly close to agreeing a deal for former Barcelona stopper Victor Valdes, the best thing for Van Gaal to do is push through a fresh and improved contract for De Gea as soon as possible.
