What are the expectations for Manchester United now?

It would have been hard to imagine that Manchester United would still be in this predicament many years ago. With no title since 2013, no domestic trophy since 2017 and the club in disarray, what would constitute a successful season for the Red Devils now?

After the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick was appointed as the interim manager to help as the wheels well and truly came off under Solskjaer despite promising signs during his tenure. However, it looks like there tensions in the camp already with Rangnick only being in the job since the end of November. Many predicted a better time for the Red Devils.

With a lot of players unhappy with life at Old Trafford, including summer signing Cristiano Ronaldo, it looks like the players have downed tools already for the new manager with some reportedly questioning the training methods of the German and his American assistant Chris Armas. This has led to some of the fan base questioning the player’s commitment to the cause of playing for Manchester United.

There has not been the expected new manager bounce with things at an all-time low with Solskjaer suffering humiliating defeats to Liverpool, Manchester City and Watford. The performances that have followed under Rangnick have been far from convincing especially with the credentials he brought of pressing football.

Pressing football is now how the best teams in the world play. Even if you look at just the top three in the Premier League (Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea) you see them pressing from the front constantly. Since Rangnick has come in you could argue Manchester United have only done that for 20 minutes against Crystal Palace and still needed a late goal from Fred. Since then United have dropped points all over the show especially from leading positions.

United most recently were dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Middlesbrough on penalties despite creating chance after chance. It was realistically the last chance for United to win a trophy this season and stop the rot.

The only hope for United now is to miraculously win the Champions League or to finish in the top four to secure Champions League football next year. If they fail to be in the most prestigious European competition next year you will more than likely see Ronaldo to leave alongside many other big names at the Manchester club.

Many will look at United as a fallen giant but still able to bloat their squad with players who are worth millions of pounds, so when talking about the ownership they feel they have no right to. However, the past failings of the club cannot be down to Solskjaer, Jose Mourinho, Louis Van Gaal or David Moyes but the hierarchy above them making the decisions behind the scenes. With the right decisions made by people more involved in football than business then United could stand a chance of getting back to where they were.

The club is in disarray and once again needs a cultural reboot. It looks like it is down to two candidates and the bookies best football betting offers have Erik ten Hag or Mauricio Pochettino as favourites. But once again they need the backing from the top to have a clear identity of how to play and what to expect from the players.