Ruben Amorim got his three top-targets in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko to fix the embarrassing goal-scoring record of 44 last season. What about midfield? It's an area of the pitch where the opponents easily drive their bus through. No legs to run and press, no tacklers to win the ball back instantly, no progression to run with the ball. It's been apparent since a few seasons especially when Roy Keane asked for Declan Rice and Harry Kane in summer of 2023. Sir Alex Ferguson in his first full season had new centre-backs Viv Anderson and Steve Bruce, striker Brian McClair, and later got goal-keeper Jim Leighton and brought back Mark 'Sparky' Hughes from Barcelona. Ferguson looked to fix the spine of the team not just one area.
Amorim to his credit distanced the bomb squad from rest of the team for the Premier League summer series which Manchester United won in the USA by beating Bournemouth, West Ham and drawing with Everton. Bomb squad were told to find new club and kept away from the team, they include Marcus Rashford (joined Barcelona on loan), Jadon Sancho, Anthony, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia. Amorim stressed on training from Chicago as a base and going around to the venues in order to get maximum time on the pitch with the players. He also stressed the need for players to bond on and off the pitch with team dinners and evening time offs. By all accounts the mood in the camp was excellent.
United continued to re-structure in the background. Most important change at Manchester United was the opening of the refurbished Carrington training centre which cost 50 million Pounds. It looks stunning with large open areas which have natural light to create an uplifting environment as per Simon Stone of the BBC. Now Carrington will be the base for team to gather and leave as a group to Old Trafford on match-days instead of arriving directly at Old Trafford four-hours early. On the personnel front Will Carvalho joins from Brighton as Head Performance Chef and Marcus Hannon as Head of Sports Nutrition from Qatar FA and Aston Villa previously. Sir Jim Ratcliffe's scathing attack on lack of Data Analysis has led to recruitment of INEOS group's Mercedes F1 team's Head of Data, Micheal Sansoni as new Director of Data. Kirstin Furber joins as People Director to "to take the lead in developing and evolving the club’s workforce and people culture." Except Chief Operating Officer Collette Roche, rest of the staff are new as Head of Academy Nick Cox also left to join Everton as Technical Director after very successful stint at United. Thank you, Nick.
Who plays with Bruno Fernandes in midfield is the key question? Manuel Ugarte who played under Amorim struggled last season and was dropped in the final of Europa League while Casemiro is not so mobile anymore at 33. United pursued Brighton player-of-the-year Carlos Baleba but the club do not want to sell the player this summer and United think they have made significant ground work for next summer's top target. Other targets include Adam Wharton, Morten Hjulmand, Ederson, Lucien Agoume and Hayden Hackney. United have not disposed off their bomb squad yet which has hampered their acquisition of a midfielder. Other clubs know United are desperate to sell and are making a low bid or the players like Sancho are not willing to take a pay-cut. If United do not sign a competent midfielder, they might struggle to be in top X.
Despite finishing 15th United were able to complete three big signings of Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko for an average of 75 million each. This was made possible by the fact that from July 1st new financial season starts and United have a whole year ahead to adjust the books. Last year they used Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment to clear the debt or can increase revolving credit facility temporarily. They have not been able to raise money from the four members of the bomb squad yet but have done via sales of Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest to Newcastle, Alvaro Carreras from Benfica to Real Madrid. Further they got Barcelona to pay Marcus Rashford's 14 million salary while on loan and Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen, Johnny Evans are no longer on the payroll. Scott McTominay meanwhile has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or for his terrific form for Napoli. Good luck, Scott. United have also signed 3 exciting youngsters Diego Leon, Enzo Kana-Biyik and Harley Emsden-James.
United as a club are very happy to finally have Benjamin Sesko who they have tracked since he was 16 years old. Head of Recruitment, Christopher Vivell brought Sesko from Slovenia to Austria to Germany and now to United; he also negotiated the deal with RB Leipzig, where he worked before. Amorim's first choice was always Victor Gyokores who joined Arsenal as he thought they are further in their project to win the Premier League than United and also he is already 27. Fair. United said the same things about Rasmus Hojlund two years back like signing for the long term et cetera et cetera; but by signing two #10's in Cunha and Mbeumo to support the new striker Sesko, history won't be repeated. Hojlund's boyhood dream was playing for Manchester United and in a results driven business he is made surplus to requirements but yet to agree terms with any club. Tough.
Sir Alex Ferguson given the backing and still missing out on Paul Gascoigne finished his first full season at 2nd place. He and his team clearly overperformed. Amorim's best could be finishing around top 8 with full summer of training and his choice of front three attackers. With the toughest set of fixtures since David Moyes - United play Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool in first 8 games; a bad start would make Amorim the bookies favourite to be first managerial casualty. United persisted with Amorim despite their worst season in 50 years but how patient would Jim Ratcliffe be if results and performances do not improve? Would Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard school United and dent their optimism for the new season? Amorim thinks otherwise while fans fear without a ball-winning midfielder.
Probably first XI: Bayindir(GK), de Ligt, Yoro, Heaven, Dorgu, Amad, Casemiro, Mount, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo.
34th season opener since 1991 and all excited.
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