Manchester United have not been good enough in Europe all season; supporters will be hoping the club’s management see this too.
It’s too easy to say they didn’t care; United were simply not good enough
Basel, Ajax, Benfica, Athletic Bilbao- All sides which the Red Devils have failed to beat in Europe this season.
Last May the club were duelling it out in the Champions League Final with Barcelona.
It seems like another world, but to honest right now Barcelona and Real Madrid may as well be on another planet.
If Sir Alex Ferguson believes this current squad are capable of catching or competing with Europe’s elite he is mistaken.
Bilbao were superb, but a 5-3 aggregate defeat to Spain’s seventh best team is poor by their own high standards.
Winning the Premier League would again be a super achievement, but it would paper over the gaping cracks in the club’s midfield which have been so blatantly evident since the club were defeated 2-0 by Barcelona in Rome in 2009.
Yet the last time United bought a central midfielder was 2007, in Anderson, who has failed to convince even his own fans.
It is not good enough to pin all their hopes on youngsters Tom Cleverley and Paul Pogba, or old timers Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
While excuses such as ‘It was just the Europa League they didn’t care enough’ will be trotted out, and there may be an element of truth in it, it would be to ignore previous European ineptitude against Basel and Benfica, as well as the Carling Cup embarrassment at home to Crystal Palace.
Earlier this week United were linked with young star Eden Hazard. This would be a step forward, but where the winger would fit in is anyone’s guess.
The club need central midfield players, a Marek Hamsik or Javi Martinez would each be a perfect fit, and are the right age, quality, and experience.
The manager must finally concede what supporters have been saying for several seasons, and admit that the central midfield area presently looks far too weak.
Regardless of what happens in this year’s title race, changes are necessary. City will invest this summer, so United cannot afford to be left behind at home as well as abroad.
The club are far below the level they aspire to be at, and unless they get the chequebook out in the summer, it is where they will remain.
image: © henrikalexandersen
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