Manchester United’s defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday dealt a blow to their ambitions of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League. Despite leading for a significant portion of the match after Marcus Rashford’s stunning opener, United ultimately succumbed to a 3-1 loss as City capitalized on their opportunities.
Erik ten Hag’s side now finds themselves facing an uphill battle to secure a Champions League berth, trailing the final guaranteed spot by 11 points. With the end of the season looming, United’s form needs to be near flawless if they are to bridge the gap and secure their objective.
The remaining fixtures for United present a mixed bag of challenges, ranging from tough clashes against Liverpool and Arsenal to more favorable encounters against Sheffield United and Burnley. While matches against the latter opponents should ideally result in three points for United, their inconsistency this season has seen them falter in games where they were expected to dominate.
In his post-match assessment, former United captain Roy Keane highlighted this inconsistency and lack of authority in games where United should have performed better. He emphasized the importance of consistency, particularly in matches where United are expected to secure maximum points.
Keane’s comments reflect the challenges that lie ahead for United in their pursuit of a top-four finish. With time running out in the season, Ten Hag’s side must address their inconsistencies and approach each remaining fixture with determination and focus to maximize their chances of achieving their objective.
“When you have invested that money and the quality they have, you still think you need a bit more than that. It is fine sitting in against City and picking them off if you can, which they did well today. But it is the games over the last few months where you just don’t see that consistent performance.
“We keep saying about United that they have been digging results out. Eventually that catches up with you. For United, in terms of the bigger picture, you need more.”
Manchester United’s recent defeat to Manchester City marked their second successive loss in the Premier League, highlighting a concerning trend of inconsistency. Prior to their defeats against City and Fulham, United had managed to string together a four-game winning streak in the league.
During this winning run, United secured victories against Wolves, West Ham United, Aston Villa, and Luton Town, collecting 12 points in the process. However, despite the positive results, there were signs of vulnerability and reliance on individual moments rather than cohesive team performances.
In several matches, United seemed fortunate to come away with victories, needing late goals or moments of brilliance to secure the points. The narrow margins of victory against Villa and Luton, as well as the late drama against Wolves, highlighted United’s struggles to dominate matches convincingly.
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Moreover, United’s home form has been particularly disappointing, with damaging defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth earlier in the season. These unexpected losses, coupled with the recent setback against Fulham, have raised questions about United’s ability to perform consistently, especially in matches they are expected to win comfortably.
As the season progresses, United will need to address their inconsistencies and find a way to deliver more assured performances if they are to achieve their objective of Champions League qualification. Failure to do so could see them rue missed opportunities and costly defeats come the end of the campaign.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73180908/2056672831.0.jpg "Roy Keane's predictions about Manchester United have been proven right, thanks to four recent results. 1")
“When you have invested that money and the quality they have, you still think you need a bit more than that. It is fine sitting in against City and picking them off if you can, which they did well today. But it is the games over the last few months where you just don’t see that consistent performance.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/12/26/3850868-78250288-2560-1440.jpg "Roy Keane's predictions about Manchester United have been proven right, thanks to four recent results. 4")