How did the transfer window go?
Those responsible spent almost 200 million euros this summer to hire keeper André Onana (27/Inter Milan) as the successor to David de Gea (32), midfield driver Mason Mount (24/Chelsea) and striker Rasmus Höjlund (20 / Atalanta) to Old Trafford. Great hopes are attached to the latter in particular. “I’m sure the whole team has been waiting for a guy like him,” said Erik ten Hag after Saturday’s 3-1 win over RC Lens.
Otherwise, United kept their squad together for the most part, apart from attacker Anthony Elanga (21/Nottingham) and left-back Alex Telles (30/Al-Nassr), only the loaned Marcel Sabitzer (29) and Wout Weghorst (30) are worth mentioning. A duo could still be added: According to “Guardian”, West Ham United has made a double offer for Harry Maguire (30) and Scott McTominay (26) over 70 million euros – both are dispensable for ten Hag.
What is hope and what is worry?
The results of the preparations gave some cause for optimism (three defeats in the USA against Real, BVB and Wrexham), but as mentioned, the Red Devils won their dress rehearsal against French runners-up Lens. The attacking trio of Marcus Rashford, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho showed remarkable early form – without the new captain Bruno Fernandes having to put his stamp on the game.
The team has now internalized ten Hag’s football, the ambitious Dutchman leads the team with a fruitful mixture of rigor, consistency and approachability. And when United start the new season against Wolverhampton on August 14th, United will already have a clear picture of the squad’s biggest problems compared to many of their competitors. In the meantime, ten Hag’s team has been vulnerable in preparation, especially on the defensive, which had only conceded 43 goals in 38 games in the Premier League last season (third best value).
“We have to raise the bar,” ten Hag recently clarified, referring to the “very strong competition”. He doesn’t want to put too much pressure on Höjlund, but with whom great hopes are attached in the theater of dreams. For Atalanta, however, the Danish international (six goals in six international matches) “only” scored nine goals in 32 Serie A games. One factor will be how quickly he can adapt to Premier League football. Otherwise everything depends on Rashford in the seventh best offensive of the previous year.
Prognosis
Manchester United’s third place from the previous season must first be confirmed. City rivals ManCity and Arsenal, which has been strengthened with a lot of money, are likely to rush ahead again, while the Red Devils have top-class competitors from Newcastle United, Liverpool, maybe Tottenham, maybe even Aston Villa. A Champions League starting place must also be secured in view of the additional burden in the premier class. United can probably only get a trophy again in a cup competition.
