<\/p>\n
United\u2019s major issue under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0It’s hard to pinpoint a singular issue but there is one overarching gap\/criticism of Ole’s reign which, despite his amazing success in 2.5 years, prevents United from becoming elite. The issue under Ole is that the players aren’t being helped by the system\/tactic. If they perform\/cope, it’s not really because of the system, but despite it. United are not laying out clear patterns & processes to make things easier for the players during the game. For example, we have had build up issues for a while. Shaw being able to progress even after the build up structure being bad is him performing despite the system. He’s just that good dribbling and passing wise. It doesn’t change the fact that he doesn’t get the required support. A player might play out of his skin & manage on a day or a new signing might come in & do better but it doesn’t change the fact that the existing system doesn’t facilitate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0A tactic has to leverage its players strengths & mitigate its player weaknesses. United aren’t doing that as well as they can under Ole. The summer window created an imbalance which has only opened us up more to the system inconsistency & inefficiency we always had. We now have more attacking players who have high ball-affinity & are left leaning & no holding progressive CM profile except Matic. But transfers only solve so much. We need more emphasized structures that put less pressure on the players. These patterns are what players fall back on when things don’t work out. This reduces the burden on individuals. The absence of these forces them to take matters into their own hands – an exaggeration of which especially in attack is what fans refer to as ‘individual brilliance.’<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0That’s not always a bad thing. Giving players freedom & promoting flair is good, but there’s a balance. The current United side, thanks to the composition of its current personnel, is on the wrong side of that balance. Against Aston Villa last week, the burden on individuals was clear. The drastic change this year could be down to the immense attacking talent at Ole’s display. The temptation to go direct or rely on the world-class qualities of the attackers (Eg. Bruno’s final ball + Ronaldo’s finishing) seems to be bypassing logical system rules.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The value of Scott McTominay and Fred<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0Where do McFred come in all of this? In a system as dynamic as this, which lacks structures and protection for its players, the players who have the best ability to cope become the natural picks. This is where Scott and Fred shine. Their physical and mental attributes alone form a huge reason for their preference. Both players regularly top the running charts for United, have good coverage of area, are naturally fit players who tirelessly do their jobs till full time and are usually available for selection 90% of the season. These aspects were confirmed by Ole in his recent presser before the Villareal UCL tie:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cThe stats for them two [McTominay & Fred] together, we\u2019ve had many good results. The energy and desire, I really like to have the two of them. I can trust them to give us what they\u2019ve got. Fans will always have opinions, it\u2019s easy to say who should be playing.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0The intensity and coverage that Ole needs in the chaotic environment that is United\u2019s midfield can only be provided by Fred and Scott. Ole also refers to some \u2018stats\u2019 here. Let’s dive into that. There are some objective numbers backing McFred as well.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0\u00a0As you can see in the above viz, last season Fred won the ball back most for United. His ball winning stats are all in the top 10 percentile in Europe and he is by far United\u2019s most important tool for winning the ball back so that we can play our game. When he\u2019s not on the pitch, United sorely lack a player who can win the ball back quickly and efficiently.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0In 21\/22 so far, Fred\u2019s per 90 defensive actions ranking (among players >2.5 90s played) reads:<\/span><\/p>\n 3.6 Tackles Attempted: 1st \u00a0Paints a pretty clear picture, doesn\u2019t it? Fred is immense for United off the ball.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Let\u2019s also list down Scott\u2019s contributions in the same way:<\/span><\/p>\n 2.1 Tackles Attempted: 2nd While not as intense or efficient as Fred, Scott\u2019s value in the defensive department is clear.<\/span><\/p>\n So we know now Ole likes the intensity, consistency & mentality of the duo and the \u2018stats\u2019 he\u2019s referring to back up their ball-winning ability on the pitch as well. The next question on your mind might be – But why do we need 2 ball-winners in midfield anyway? Why can\u2019t we have 1 or 2 playmakers in the pivot instead?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The answer to this is straightforward – United have too many creators and scorers on the pitch in their 4-2-3-1. Bruno who plays CAM is one of Europe\u2019s elite creators and for all practical purposes a key pass machine. He ensures high chance creation and final 3rd balls at the cost of losing the ball in possession thanks to ambitious passes and shots. Ahead of him, United have a star-studded cast of Ronaldo, Greenwood and Pogba and in rotation (for now) Cavani, Sancho and Rashford. Pogba guarantees more ball-playing talent and already leads the league for assists. Ronaldo and Greenwood are starting often thanks to their ability to finish the chances Pogba and Bruno create. The front 4 is packed with creativity and scoring to the limit. Some might say it\u2019s beyond the limit and is hurting retention and safety since all 4 lose the ball a lot thanks to ambitious shooting and passing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0With this kind of setup and a lot of ball losses to deal with, the pivot essentially becomes a ball-recovery engine for the team. With the fullbacks often caught ahead on the flanks, the front 4 as attacking as they are and the CB pairing focussing on winning their duels to ensure they aren\u2019t bypassed by opponent attackers, the pivot 2 are under unreal pressure to cover a lot of area in midfield, win the ball back and recycle it efficiently to the front 4 again. This creates a high ball-winning pressure which can only be satisfied by Fred and Scott. The below viz confirms the contributions in defending and progression from the midfield 3 options:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 There is a reason Bruno-Fred-Scott is the preferred mid 3. They have the right balance of progression and ball-winning Ole wants. Matic\u2019s lack of agility, coverage and defensive intensity mean that he can\u2019t cope while VDB and Mata don\u2019t offer as much progression or defending. The reason why Pogba doesn\u2019t make the pivot is also visible here. Defensively he can\u2019t cope, which Ole has learnt through a few experiments. But given Pogba\u2019s quality, Ole has now turned to use him as a winger. McFred becomes the default pivot. All of this is also indicative of the lack of good options in midfield which is a good argument. We felt United needed a holding playmaker CM this summer and are badly ill-equipped without one (Read our CM shortlist <\/span>here<\/a>). But let\u2019s keep that aside for now and work with what we have.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even with the defensive traits of McFred, the midfield is barely being dominated by them which is one of the main reasons for United\u2019s recent form. Until last year, McFred somehow coped with these system gaps, but this year with the addition of Ronaldo and the higher attacking (read possession losing) quotient of the front 4, the pressure on the pivot and CB pairing in transitions is even more intense leading to some very open games (Like West Ham and Aston Villa) where possession retention and circulation were tough and a lot of time and energy of the squad was spent in winning the ball back and competing in 50-50s.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What is the way forward?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0So far, we have deduced the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n We circle back to the lack of processes to ponder over solutions.\u00a0 As mentioned above, a tactic should mitigate player weaknesses but United don\u2019t provide any such cover for the pivot or backline. For example, Fred\u2019s weaknesses are his poor first touch and affinity to lunge forward instead of holding position. These haven\u2019t been covered for. Either due to a lack of coaching or players not being receptive to coaching, both continue to be an issue in Fred\u2019s game. His excellent ball-winning and underrated progression are masked by those rare but critical moments when he loses the ball under pressure in a deep area or loses the 50-50 in a transition. A system that allows him more time on the ball or more protection in transitions would be beneficial.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Which then brings us to another question – Why can\u2019t the system change enough to facilitate Pogba or Matic in the pivot? For all theoretical purposes, it can. One can argue that their progression traits (as shown in the viz above) are valuable enough to justify playing them in midfield. But they then require a system that covers for their defensive weaknesses. If the need to run around intensely to win the ball is reduced, Matic and Pogba can start – and this is clear since Ole uses them against low blocks (like Newcastle recently) to good effect where that need is minimal. But the lack of set patterns and processes means covering for deficiencies isn\u2019t easy. In a nutshell, the message from Ole and his coaching team seems to be – \u2018We can\u2019t cover for your weaknesses, so be as consistent and well-rounded as possible.\u2019\u00a0 This leads to him picking\/wanting players who can do most things without having any glaring weaknesses in their game. Which isn\u2019t a sustainable approach to building a tactic or team.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0The same effect was seen with the CB pairing. United leave themselves open on transitions so often, that the CBs face a lot more duels than they should. The expectation then becomes – winning duels consistently and efficiently. Varane to Lindelof was an upgrade with the aim of increasing that duel winning rate (which Lindelof couldn\u2019t maximize due to being average in aerial duels). But the fact that the CB pair face a lot of duels in transition hasn\u2019t changed. No matter how good Varane and Maguire are (and they are pretty good as we explain <\/span>here<\/a>) , exposing them repeatedly will cause a few to get through and those few goals are usually the difference between trophies and losses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0It\u2019s the same for the pivot. No matter how good Fred and Scott are at ball-winning, a system that forces them into so many defensive actions is probably not a title-winning one anyway. In short, McFred are the best at what they do and deserve to start for that reason, but for United to win titles, no midfielder should probably be doing what they do in the first place. It\u2019s not a complaint against them, it\u2019s a complaint against the tactic under Ole. And upgrading every position (like Varane for Lindelof or Scott for a new CM) can only take you so far at the end of the day. If the root issues aren\u2019t tackled, no player can perform to his best.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0A good example is Chelsea under Tuchel. They are defensively solid without the need to get into so many duels. Tuchel has covered for his player\u2019s weaknesses and given them a system to fall back on, which limits the situations they struggle in considerably. The best example is Jorginho, who was always criticized for not being defensively strong. But, like Matic, his progression and playmaking was always exceptional. In a system where he isn\u2019t forced into defensive actions regularly and has time on the ball to do what he does best, he is a gem. And that\u2019s what Tuchel has provided him – to the point of success of Ballon Dor shouts.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0In summary, Ole is justified in starting McFred. His comments on their intensity and stats are right. They are the best fit for the system United currently play with. But the larger question is whether this is the path for the future – whether repeating this process or even slightly improving on it can get United to really control transitions, dominate midfield, create efficiently, win consistently and lift the trophies the Old Trafford faithfuls have been dreaming of. That\u2019s a question Ole has to think much harder about than his recent presser responses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] \u00a0Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s pre-match press conference comments, before the key UCL tie against Villareal explaining the importance of Scott McTominay and Fred to United\u2019s starting XI, have made fans questioning why McFred enjoys so much importance and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":273101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s pre-match press conference comments, before the key UCL tie against Villareal explaining the importance of Scott McTominay and Fred to United\u2019s starting XI, have sent fans questioning why they enjoy so much importance and preference in United\u2019s pivot for the good part of 2.5 years (Most of Ole\u2019s tenure). Especially coming off the back of a few unimpressive performances in September, the United manager\u2019s selections and tactics have been questioned in recent weeks. But like most things football, the answer isn\u2019t black and white. United definitely have issues under Ole which are clearly linked to a lack of structures and processes, which gives rise to a lot of variation and extremities - and within this variation Fred and Scott are Ole\u2019s go-to midfield men thanks to their ability to \u2018cope\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n United\u2019s major issue under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer<\/strong> It's hard to pinpoint a singular issue but there is one overarching gap\/criticism of Ole's reign which, despite his amazing success in 2.5 years, prevents United from becoming elite. The issue under Ole is that the players aren't being helped by the system\/tactic. If they perform\/cope, it's not really because of the system, but despite it. United are not laying out clear patterns & processes to make things easier for the players during the game. For example, we have had build up issues for a while. Shaw being able to progress even after the build up structure being bad is him performing despite the system. He's just that good dribbling and passing wise. It doesn't change the fact that he doesn't get the required support. A player might play out of his skin & manage on a day or a new signing might come in & do better but it doesn't change the fact that the existing system doesn't facilitate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n A tactic has to leverage its players strengths & mitigate its player weaknesses. United aren't doing that as well as they can under Ole. The summer window created an imbalance which has only opened us up more to the system inconsistency & inefficiency we always had. We now have more attacking players who have high ball-affinity & are left leaning & no holding progressive CM profile except Matic. But transfers only solve so much. We need more emphasized structures that put less pressure on the players. These patterns are what players fall back on when things don't work out. This reduces the burden on individuals. The absence of these forces them to take matters into their own hands - an exaggeration of which esp in attack is what fans refer to as 'individual brilliance.'<\/p>\n\n\n\n That's not always a bad thing. Giving players freedom & promoting flair is good, but there's a balance. The current United side, thanks to the composition of its current personnel, is on the wrong side of that balance. Against Aston Villa last week, the burden on individuals was clear. The drastic change this year could be down to the immense attacking talent at Ole's display. The temptation to go direct or rely on the world-class qualities of the attackers (Eg. Bruno's final ball + Ronaldo's finishing) seems to be bypassing logical system rules. As you can see in the above viz, last season Fred won the ball back most for United. His ball winning stats are all in the top 10 percentile in Europe and he is by far United\u2019s most important tool for winning the ball back so that we can play our game. When he\u2019s not on the pitch, United sorely lack a player who can win the ball back quickly and efficiently. Paints a pretty clear picture, doesn\u2019t it? Fred is immense for United off the ball. 2.1 Tackles Attempted: 2nd With this kind of setup and a lot of ball losses to deal with, the pivot essentially becomes a ball-recovery engine for the team. With the fullbacks often caught ahead on the flanks, the front 4 as attacking as they are and the CB pairing focussing on winning their duels to ensure they aren\u2019t bypassed by opponent attackers, the pivot 2 are under unreal pressure to cover a lot of area in midfield, win the ball back and recycle it efficiently to the front 4 again. This creates a high ball-winning pressure which can only be satisfied by Fred and Scott. The below viz confirms the contributions in defending and progression from the mid 3 options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even with the defensive traits of McFred, the midfield is barely being dominated by them which is one of the main reasons for United\u2019s recent form. Until last year, McFred somehow coped with these system gaps, but this year with the addition of Ronaldo and the higher attacking (read possession losing) quotient of the front 4, the pressure on the pivot and CB pairing in transitions is even more intense leading to some very open games (Like West Ham and Aston Villa) where possession retention and circulation were tough and a lot of time and energy of the squad was spent in winning the ball back and competing in 50-50s. So far, we have deduced the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We circle back to the lack of a structure to ponder over solutions. Even with the 4-2-3-1 and ball-winning pivot setup, a lack of structure is visible. As mentioned above, a tactic should mitigate player weaknesses but United don\u2019t provide any such cover for the pivot or backline. For example, Fred\u2019s weaknesses are his poor first touch and affinity to lunge forward instead of holding position. These haven\u2019t been covered for. Either due to a lack of coaching or players not being receptive to coaching, both continue to be an issue in Fred\u2019s game. His excellent ball-winning and underrated progression are masked by those rare but critical moments when he loses the ball under pressure in a deep area or loses the 50-50 in a transition. A system that allows him more time on the ball or more protection in transitions would be beneficial. It\u2019s the same for the pivot. No matter how good Fred and Scott are at ball-winning, a system that forces them into so many defensive actions is probably not a title-winning one anyway. In short, McFred are the best at what they do and deserve to start for that reason, but for United to win titles, no midfielder should probably be doing what they do in the first place. It\u2019s not a complaint against them, it\u2019s a complaint against the tactic under Ole. And upgrading every position (like Varane for Lindelof or Scott for a new CM) can only take you so far at the end of the day. If the root issues aren\u2019t tackled, no player can perform to his best. ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/XBd5NxiZ1XFbZZI4Gn4GRVKpC4dgSIx4KrtgCmG5eJJETm6tVeC2YQ70f-1s6Ao2iLwUb5vCP68G0rml9sS_nu72Lv-pODt2FKQ2sZlzGaDLMnucD5SkWcrDrq6ci8p-aoYJfA-U=s0\")
<\/span>2.8 Tackles Won: 1st<\/span>
27.1 Pressures: 1st<\/span>
6.6 Successful pressures: 1st<\/span>
12.1 Recoveries: 1st<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span>1.1 Tackles Won: 3rd<\/span>
13.9 Pressures: 4th<\/span>
2.9 Successful pressures: 8th<\/span>
6.1 Recoveries: 11th<\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/PWKJF95aUpkcxLVeRfHwhiTNFwPZ6amWXzvpg3fnDEMLMY78UQyASSCzeTdxL8j4dg6piIqf2rxxtOVTB54GN_g8RpxwMaKfuRn6nVzE81zf23dVz8RmV6Y1glW8eVhWFiOvxJ9X=s0\")
\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/Q2pGyATDwpdRZl38tm9jydn4_9BujiWfq37fab5dgB7Jo2WDMn4SKtLaTvJhpOfSdwHnPoCjLDzcMmmNM_bPX4yKcAEasjfDqVRKa_SrVRaXs9pHbETcOut_a065aoINNjbYI5E5=s0\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The value of Scott McTominay and Fred
<\/strong>Where do McFred come in all of this? In a system as dynamic as this, which lacks structures and protection for its players, the players who have the best ability to cope become the natural picks. This is where Scott and Fred shine. Their physical and mental attributes alone form a huge reason for their preference. Both players regularly top the running charts for United, have good coverage of area, are naturally fit players who tirelessly do their jobs till full time and are usually available for selection 90% of the season. These aspects were confirmed by Ole in his recent presser before the Villareal UCL tie:
\u201cThe stats for them two [McTominay & Fred] together, we\u2019ve had many good results. The energy and desire, I really like to have the two of them. I can trust them to give us what they\u2019ve got. Fans will always have opinions, it\u2019s easy to say who should be playing.\u201d
The intensity and coverage that Ole needs in the chaotic environment that is United\u2019s midfield can only be provided by Fred and Scott. Ole also refers to some \u2018stats\u2019 here. Let's dive into that. There are some objective numbers backing McFred as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 21\/22 so far, Fred\u2019s per 90 defensive actions ranking (among players >2.5 90s played) reads:
3.6 Tackles Attempted: 1st
2.8 Tackles Won: 1st
27.1 Pressures: 1st
6.6 Successful pressures: 1st
12.1 Recoveries: 1st<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s also list down Scott\u2019s contributions in the same way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.1 Tackles Won: 3rd
13.9 Pressures: 4th
2.9 Successful pressures: 8th
6.1 Recoveries: 11th
While not as intense or efficient as Fred, Scott\u2019s value in the defensive department is clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So we know now Ole likes the intensity, consistency & mentality of the duo and the \u2018stats\u2019 he\u2019s referring to back up their ball-winning ability on the pitch as well. The next question on your mind might be - But why do we need 2 ball-winners in midfield anyway? Why can\u2019t we have 1 or 2 playmakers in the pivot instead?
The answer to this is straightforward - United have too many creators and scorers on the pitch in their 4-2-3-1. Bruno who plays CAM is one of Europe\u2019s elite creators and for all practical purposes a key pass machine. He ensures high chance creation and final 3rd balls at the cost of losing the ball in possession thanks to ambitious passes and shots. Ahead of him, United have a star-studded cast of Ronaldo, Greenwood and Pogba and in rotation (for now) Cavani, Sancho and Rashford. Pogba guarantees more ball-playing talent and already leads the league for assists. Ronaldo and Greenwood are starting often thanks to their ability to finish the chances Pogba and Bruno create. The front 4 is packed with creativity and scoring to the limit. Some might say it\u2019s beyond the limit and is hurting retention and safety since all 4 lose the ball a lot thanks to ambitious shooting and scoring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a reason Bruno-Fred-Scott is the preferred mid 3. They have the right balance of progression and ball-winning Ole wants. Matic\u2019s lack of agility, coverage and defensive intensity mean that he can\u2019t cope while VDB and Mata don\u2019t offer as much progression or defending. The reason why Pogba doesn\u2019t make the pivot is also visible here. Defensively he can\u2019t cope, which Ole has learnt through a few experiments. But given Pogba\u2019s quality, Ole has now turned to use him as a winger. McFred becomes the default pivot. All of this is also indicative of the lack of good options in midfield which is a good argument. We felt United needed a holding playmaker CM this summer and are badly ill-equipped without one (Read our CM shortlist here<\/a>). But let\u2019s keep that aside for now and work with what we have.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is the way forward?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which then brings us to another question - Why can\u2019t the system change enough to facilitate Pogba or Matic in the pivot? For all theoretical purposes, it can. One can argue that their progression traits (as shown in the viz above) are valuable enough to justify playing them in midfield. But they then require a system that covers for their defensive weaknesses. If the need to not run around intensely to win the ball is reduced, Matic and Pogba can play - and this is clear since Ole uses them against low blocks (like Newcastle recently) to good effect where that need is minimal. But the lack of set patterns and processes means covering for deficiencies isn\u2019t easy. In a nutshell, the message from Ole and his coaching team seems to be - \u2018We can\u2019t cover for your weaknesses, so be as consistent and well-rounded as possible.\u2019 This leads to him picking\/wanting players who can do most things without having any glaring weaknesses in their game. Which isn\u2019t a sustainable approach to building a tactic or team.
The same effect was seen with the CB pairing. United leave themselves open on transitions so often, that the CBs face a lot more duels than they should. The expectation then becomes - winning duels consistently and efficiently. Varane to Lindelof was an upgrade with the aim of increasing that duel winning rate (which Lindelof couldn\u2019t maximise due to being average in aerial duels). But the fact that the CB pair face a lot of duels in transition hasn\u2019t changed. No matter how good Varane and Maguire are (and they are pretty good as we explain here<\/a>) , exposing them repeatedly will cause a few to get through and those few goals are usually the difference between trophies and losses.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A good example is Chelsea under Tuchel. They are defensively solid without the need to get into so many duels. Tuchel has covered for his player\u2019s weaknesses and given them a system to fall back on, which limits the situations they struggle in considerably. The best example is Jorginho, who was always criticized for not being defensively strong. But, like Matic, his progression and playmaking was always exceptional. In a system where he isn\u2019t forced into defensive actions regularly and has time on the ball to do what he does best, he is a gem. And that\u2019s what Tuchel has provided him - to the point of success of Ballon Dor shouts.
In summary, Ole is justified in starting McFred. His comments on their intensity and stats are probably right. They are the best fit for the system United currently play with. But the larger question is whether this is the path for the future - whether repeating this process or even slightly improving on it can get United to really control transitions, dominate midfield, create efficiently, win consistently and lift the trophies the Old Trafford faithfuls have been dreaming of. That\u2019s a question Ole has to think much harder about than his recent presser responses. <\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[11,12,30,45,69,25,17,29,20,21],"class_list":["post-273099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football-players-analysis","tag-manchesterunited","tag-manutd","tag-mufc-2","tag-uefa-2","tag-champions-league","tag-epl","tag-manchester-united","tag-mufc","tag-premier-league","tag-uefa"],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n