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Manchester United. Once rulers of football, not just in England or Europe, but the world, have struggled to live up to their lofty expectations this season, labouring to even make the top four in the Barclay’s Premier League. But where did it all go wrong?
United are the most successful team in England, with an impressive 20 league titles, 11 FA Cups, four League Cups and three European Cups to their name. They are also one of the richest sports clubs in the world, worth an estimated $4500 million, and boast fans in every corner of the globe. So why have the last few seasons been so fruitless for them?
With the introduction of David Moyes. After the great Sir Alex Ferguson retired from management, many questioned if Moyes would be able to take control of a club that had been run by the same face for 27 years. And frankly, he could not handle a team of that stature.
Moyes was determined to do his best in charge of the Manchester United faithful. He spent 11 years as the Everton manager, qualifying them for Europe on multiple occasions and leading them to an FA Cup final against Chelsea in 2009.
He was respected for his work with Everton and often received praise for doing so well on such a limited budget. His United tenure was poor though, managing the club to their worst ever start to a Premier League season, as well as finishing outside the top three for the first time in their history and leaving them with no Champions League football for the first time since 1995. Moyes was sacked after just 10 months in charge – the third-shortest managerial stint in United history – allowing assistant Ryan Giggs to finish the year as the intern manager.
Following an impressive third-place finish with the Netherlands national team at the 2014 World Cup, Louis van Gaal was announced under much fanfare as the new United manager. It seemed promising at first with expensive signings Angel Di Maria, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera joining the club. After Van Gaal’s first season in charge there were some good signs. United qualified for the Champions League play-off round and the players themselves were gelling and looked good on the pitch.
But now into Van Gaal’s second season it has all gone terribly wrong, dropping out of the Champions League at the group stage, losing to bitter rivals Liverpool in the last 16 of the Europa League, and with one game left of the 15-16 Premier League season, it is looking increasingly likely that United will yet again miss out on a top four finish, meaning a loss of Champions League football as well as potential television revenue and prize money.
So where did it all go wrong for the great Manchester United?
Many blame the managers like Moyes and van Gaal, for United’s poor performances over the last three years, but personally I believe that the board and partly Sir Alex Ferguson are also to blame. Yes, Sir Alex Ferguson won the league in his final year as manager, but where were the players being brought into the club to maintain their success? Ferguson left the club with an ageing team that needed a boost of young signings.
Manchester United were not prepared for what was to come after the departure of the greatest manager there ever was.
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