Astonished, pillaged and dazed, these type of scenes were witnessed at the Old Trafford after the final whistle of the FA Cup Quarter final. Losing to Arsenal is one thing, getting eliminated from the only realistic chance of a trophy takes it to an even higher level of anguish.
While Louis Van Gaal has won a trophy in each of his first season with each of his teams before, his history of winning trophies was laid to rest due to some shambolic defending from his players.
However, just like nature was playing the game at the Old Trafford on Monday against the home side, it might be the goal from their former player Danny Welbeck that could kick-start the misery for the Red devils.
Thus, here are 5 reasons why Manchester United won’t be in the top 4 this season: –
Dangerous run of games coming up
Before a month of football just when they are about to play Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton in the Premier League, the start of tough games hasn’t gone according to the plan with a defeat at home against Arsenal. While they have been the 3rd best team in the league per points collected since Christmas, their performance level has been everything but interesting in the meantime.
Their defeat against Newcastle last week was the sample of how they have performed and with bigger teams with greater ambitions coming their way, it will be almost impossible for Manchester United to go through this period of games unscathed.
Van Gaal hasn’t found his starting 11
Prior to their game against Arsenal in the FA Cup, the Red devils have tried 6 different formations, however, despite of the fact that ‘’some’’ of them have delivered more favorable results, Louis Van Gaal has been dynamic when it comes to his formations.
Out of all the 6 formations that Van Gaal have tried this season, 4-1-2-1-2 has been the most useful. However, Robin Van Persie who has been an important component of that formation has been missing and in his absence, Wayne Rooney is playing his role.
If the games played by Welbeck and Anderson can be taken into account, the Red devils have given first team matches to 31 players this season. However, while most of those chances were due to injuries to other players, Louis Van Gaal seemed adamant to experiment this season.
Late season dip of form suffered by Angel Di Maria
While the Argentine has gone some lows in his short Manchester United career till date, the Red card against Arsenal has been the lowest point of them all. Subbed at half time in that game against Newcastle before ‘’sending himself of’’ against Arsenal, it is fair to say that the Argentine hasn’t performed according to the expectations off late.
Unlike Fabregas and Sanchez both of whom have the luxury of their colleagues firing, the dip in form of Di Maria has been epitomized with the injury of the in-form Robin Van Persie.
Although many would argue, the dip of form suffered by Di Maria can be compared with that of Mesut Ozil, Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez. In all of these cases, one thing that can be kept out as common is that all these players suffered dip in form after the turn of the year.
That means that coming from a league like LIGA BBVA where teams and players alike get 2 weeks off during winter, these players, along with Angel Di Maria, have been victims of over-dose of action during the festive period.
However, unlike Fabregas and Sanchez both of whom have the luxury of their colleagues firing, the dip in form of Di Maria has been epitomized with the injury of the in-form Robin Van Persie.
Radamel Falcao and his lack of form
Going into the last 30 minutes of a knockout match knowing that you have to score to survive, God knows what was going through the minds of Van Gaal that he decided not to sub Radamel Falcao in. Even though his recent form hasn’t been great, a doze of confidence would have been earned by the Colombian if the Dutchman would have enshrined his trust in him.
However, like two sides of the picture, the form of Falcao has done little to pursue his manager in doing otherwise. In his last 10 games that have come after irregular intervals due to injuries, the Colombian has scored 10 goals.
While this would be a good stat for any striker which is playing for a place in the mid-table team, such lack of goals isn’t acceptable for the Manchester United folklore.
Liverpool piling the results up
Losing out from a top 4 finish would be disastrous, however, seeing their bitter rivals Liverpool to climb above them at their expense would be a catastrophe for Manchester United. Frankly speaking, bar 2 or 3 seasons from the last 3 decades, Manchester United fans aren’t used to seeing the scenario where Liverpool finish above them.
However, if Liverpool can do from what their own fans written them off in December, it will become impossible for Louis Van Gaal to suppress the noises of disgust
And looking at the results of both the teams that have come over the last 3 months, there is little differentiating them. But as they say on the performance front, the Reds have been far ahead of the Red devils when it comes to winning games in stylish style.
Two weeks ago from now, Liverpool had yet to face Southampton, Tottenham and Manchester City on the trot. And as you would expect, many expected their bubble to burst over the course of 21 days. However, like a bolt from the blue, the Reds not only came out of that period unscathed, those 3 matches can serve as to be the springboard for their form in the crucial last 2 months of the season.
Thus, with results piling up for Liverpool and form becoming their dearest friend, the Red devils have all to fear from their Merseyside rivals.
Barclays Premier League: 5 reasons why Manchester United won’t finish in the top 4 this season
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