Who remembers the 1973-1974 season of « Red Devils » ? In full alcoholic drift and soon to be fired, the legendary George Best (Ballon d'or 1968) had been the symbol of their absolute shipwreck, relegated to the second division for the first time since the 1930s. The current team, which still has a few steps ahead of the Premier League dunces, has not hit the bottom of the pool but already seems to be preparing for it. “When you experience these kinds of moments, especially at big clubs, it's really difficult to turn things around, recognizes new coach Ruben Amorimarrived to the rescue in November. We must focus on our survival. » Hardly believable words given the squad (studded with internationals), the budget (780 million euros, the second in England behind the enemy brother of City) and the prize list (notably garnished with twenty championship titles national and three Champions Leagues) of this football monument.
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Triumph past
It is precisely by going into the detail of past triumphs that we become aware of its progressive downgrading. If we except the happy parenthesis of the Cup victory last year, Manchester United have not won anything substantial since 2017 and a Europa League under the José Mourinho era. In the championship, the last coronation dates back to 2013. In the Champions League, to 2008…
“You are watching the worst team in the country”
The very unpopular American owners Glazer may have handed over sporting management to local billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, boss of the petrochemical giant Ineos, but a stubborn curse seems to pursue the successors of Sir Alex Ferguson – whose (very generous) club ambassador contract does not will not be renewed this summer.
A defense in pain
The time has come for strictness but it does not yet apply to defense: last month, Marcus Rashford's teammates conceded five defeats in the league, unheard of since 1962, and conceded 18 goals, a first since 1964. “You are watching the worst team in the country”exclaimed former local hero Gary Neville live during the defeat against Newcastle on Monday (0-2). Even the “theater of dreams”, the nickname of the Old Trafford stadium in its glory days, has taken a terrible look: the roof has major waterproofing problems, which is not a detail in the north of England, and the cleanliness leaves so much to be desired that mouse droppings were discovered in several stands. Some supporters, who swear by their sobriety, have even seen rats scampering in the aisles on match days…
Negative records
And the machine for breaking negative records could get carried away this afternoon (5:30 p.m. on Canal+) with a trip to neighbor, rival and leader Liverpool, undoubtedly the best team in Europe at the moment around the amazing “Mo” Salah, 18 goals in 17 games. “This club needs a shock”admits Amorim, who must already be wondering what he came to do in this mess, he who was competing in the Portuguese championship with Sporting Lisbon. To restart the forward movement, the Lusitanian technician hoped to recover his favorite scorer, the Swede Viktor Gyökeres, as quickly as possible, even if it meant settling on a commitment made with his former club not to poach him before the summer. After all, promises only bind those who believe them and at Manchester United, it's better to have faith at the start of the year.
