A slow start
to the season almost cost them a top-four place and any new signings need to be
secured sooner instead of later this point around.
Manchester United
As Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer walked off the pitch at Leicester's King Power Stadium on
Sunday afternoon, he searched towards were Manchester United's four directors
had been sitting and was given a thumbs up from group director Richard Arnold.
It was
employment well done from the Norwegian.
United was
written off by many before Christmas - following a disastrous start to the
season - but they secured a finish, the second-highest league position since
Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013, and clinched Champions League football for
following campaign with their convert Leicester.
Coaches
Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna had a celebratory beer pitch side to mark
the top of a protracted Premier League season while Solskjaer was undertaking
the various television interviews he was obligated to finish. The message to
everyone - and in his post-match press conference - was the same.
“This isn't
the end of the journey; it’s gone again to the next one and we know there are
two teams far before us,” Solskjaer said in regard to Manchester City and
Liverpool. And those teams aren’t just a little bit ahead of United.
There’s no
denying that it’s been a good season in the league in terms of where they
finished but that’s all relative to things, they find themselves in.
They have struggled
to mount a title charge since Ferguson retired and despite finishing third,
they were 33 points off league leaders Liverpool. There’s still a lot of work
to be done.
The owners
and board have so far backed Solskjaer in his rebuild. Even when the club was
struggling at the beginning of the season they stood by the Treble winner. Within
the club hierarchy, there was never any doubt that he would be given a while to
mold his new-look team. Since he was given the job on a permanent basis in March
2019, he has brought in five players – Daniel James, Harry Maguire, Aaron
Wan-Bissaka, Bruno Fernandes, and Odion Ighalo.
He’s shown
why he needs backing within the window again this summer thanks to the stellar
performances of those he signed. Despite the warnings about the financial
climate thanks to Covid-19 there's money to be spent and the club remains
hopeful that at least a few of deals can be agreed.
The last time United finished this high
within the league they missed the chance to strengthen properly. Fred arrived
from Shakhtar Donetsk for £52m ($68m), Diogo Dalot from Porto for £19m ($25m),
and Lee Grant from Stoke for £1.5m ($2m).
Jose
Mourinho didn’t get the center-back he was after in the lead-up to the 2018-19
season and his dissatisfaction set the tone for the start of the campaign which
saw him sacked by Christmas.
There’s no
risk of Solskjaer throwing his toys out of the pram in the same manner if he
doesn’t get his desired additions but it’s vital he’s given the backing he
needs.
