Manchester United’s next three games look like a team embarking on a nervous race for promotion to the Championship.
They will face Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final on April 21 before hosting Burnley and Sheffield United at Old Trafford the following week.
Imagine this future: the final whistle has blown against Burnley on April 27, United have just won their third game in a row and are looking forward to an FA Cup final, most likely a repeat of last year’s match between United and Manchester City.
There could even be a hint of qualification for the Champions League next season. Optimism will fill the Manchester air and even Erik ten Hag might be tempted to smile.
Even though they exhibit dysfunction on the field and key players are repeatedly injured, the next three matches could bring false hope; United could even win back-to-back league games for the first time since February. Stranger things have happened.
But that shouldn’t be enough to change the narrative of what has been a season littered with weak moments, stupid mistakes and strange implosions.
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Following their 2-2 at Bournemouth on Saturday, Ten Hag was asked about the possibility of United finishing lower than seventh this season, which would be their lowest ever finish in the Premier League. He responded by leaving the room and saying that he did not need to answer such a question.
Context is important and the club’s director of media relations and public affairs had signaled that no further questions could be asked, but the Dutchman, having been sitting for just over five minutes, began to listen to one, thought about his answer and headed back to the relative comfort of the away locker room.
It might be an exaggeration to say this indicates a manager under pressure, but that’s what it felt like – and it’s worth remembering this moment if everything seems rosy again in a few weeks’ time.
It would be too easy to forget that this would be the same team who have won just one of their last seven Premier League games and have conceded 17.9 shots per Premier League game this season, which is more than any other team. Sheffield United have allowed 17.8 shots per game, while Manchester City have the best record of 8.0.
This United side has suffered several false dawns this season, most recently at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final, which saw Amad Diallo score the winner late in extra time.
It was the moment when many hoped to inspire the club to a string of Premier League victories and qualification for the Champions League. But they followed it up by losing the lead against Brentford and conceding two goals in stoppage time to lose 4-3 away to Chelsea.
These results were a reminder of where this injury-ravaged United team has been for much of the season; close, but not close enough. It was the same story at Bournemouth, where they were outplayed for much of the game and were lucky to escape with a point.
And that’s what we need to remember if there is to be another false dawn before this season is over.
Casemiro, who failed to replicate the levels he achieved last season, was compared by Jamie Redknapp to a player in Soccer Aid, an annual charity match, citing how far off the pace he was. It’s a damning indictment that won’t be easy to forget.
“He looks like he’s in Soccer Aid.”
Jamie Redknapp’s honest opinion on Casemiro 😬 pic.twitter.com/tSw1by3uIq
– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 13, 2024
What’s also worth remembering about South Coast is the second goal they conceded: Justin Kluivert had the time and space to wander into the penalty area on the left, pick his spot and beat Andre Onana. Alejandro Garnacho and Diogo Dalot were nowhere to be found.
Justin Kluivert gives Bournemouth the lead! 🍒 pic.twitter.com/S6ycQEGhgv
– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 13, 2024
Just as we shouldn’t forget that their impressive draw against Liverpool saw them concede 15 shots in the first half alone. Another day, how many of them do this season’s title contenders convert?
Or the capitulation in the final seconds against Chelsea earlier this month, where they had already conceded in injury time to make it 3-3 before failing to close out the game and come away with a point, instead choosing to chaos and paying the price.
There was also the difficult moment of being knocked out of the Champions League, finishing last in a group that included Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen.
Ten Hag will naturally point to injuries as the reason for this season’s struggles, and it’s a justifiable argument. “We know our demand, but that tells the story,” Ten Hag said Saturday.
But there are so many difficult moments that cannot be forgotten if the narrative changes again in the next three matches. They have brought false hope to their fans on numerous occasions this season and, even if the mood turns from negative to positive before May, will it really be any different?
(Top photo: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)