Manchester United: big construction site instead of empire

Bundesliga

Liveticker | Schedule | table

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer applauded the spectators before disappearing into the player tunnel. And the audience applauded him. The Manchester United coach has suffered one of those days against Liverpool that has become rare in the recent past. It was a day of confidence at Old Trafford. A day of confidence for him.

In the 1-1 draw against the previously flawless championship leader Solskjaers team was better over long stretches and could - despite the late equalization by Adam Lallana - over a point for the morale. Whether this point changes anything in the drab overall state of the English record champion since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson six years ago is doubtful.

Oli SCARFF / AFP

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer thanks the fans in Old Trafford

The club has estimated more than a billion euros invested in this time. But unlike Liverpool, which has risen to the Champions League winner by buying expensive professionals such as Alisson or Virgil van Dijk, Manchester United has been drifting for years in the direction of athletic insignificance. The club is no longer a candidate for the championship more and threatens to say goodbye permanently from the Champions League.

Worst season start in 30 years

Solskjaer is responsible for the worst start of the season in 30 years. Only two points after the draw against the archenemy from Merseyside the advantage of a relegation place. It sounds absurd and, of course, only nine games have been played. After the current standings, however, Manchester United is in a relegation battle. "This is the worst United team I can remember in many years," said England striker Alan Shearer recently after a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle.

Unlike the Liverpool FC, who has recognized which football he wants to play with which coach and which players are needed for it, no superordinate plan can be seen at Manchester United. That's because of the leadership structure. Vice President Ed Woodward is not qualified as an ex-banker to bring the club footballing on course. Failures in the coaching and transfer market prove that. Appearing names like Louis Van Gaal, José Mourinho, Angel Di María, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Alexis Sánchez or Paul Pogba symbolize the decline of the Red Empire.

Many observers have the impression that United is no longer about sporting success, but the growth of the brand. Woodward denies that, but even admitted a year ago that the "playful performance has no significant impact on the club's financial capabilities". Just Manchester United has again presented a record sales, but provided this with the note that the expectations for the current fiscal year are lower. The sporting crisis is now also in the money.

Solksjaer supports youth players of the United Academy

Woodward was recently prominently present in public. He spoke at a staff meeting and gave the fan magazine "United We Stand" before the Liverpool game a detailed interview. The vice president strengthened coach Solskjaer for a "cultural restart" and underlined the principles that should apply under the ex-striker: "We have to win trophies, we have to play attacking football, we have to give the youth a chance." The principles are reminiscent of the golden years under Ferguson.

Above all, the return to youth has become Solskjeer's leitmotif. He is determined to integrate United Academy graduates like defender Axel Tuanzebe, midfielder Scott McTominay or attacker Mason Greenwood into the team, or even to pillars of the game. However, it is not yet proven whether they really have the quality for it or are just fillers.

Three good accesses are not enough

The squad is porous in many places. The worst is the emergency in the offensive after the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan and the injury of Anthony Martial. Marcus Rashford, potentially a symbol of a young, offensive United, was last overwhelmed as an entertainer in the storm. But against Liverpool he showed with a strong performance and his goal to 1-0 in the first half, how valuable he can be.

Russell Cheyne / REUTERS

Virgil van Dijk (l.) Leads Liverpool to the CL victory, with Harry Maguire the successes are still pending

The club sees itself on the right track despite the meager results. "From the outside, it may seem pretty bleak, but from the inside we see things differently," said Solskjaer in the stadium magazine for the Liverpool game. One reason for this perception are the summer approaches. For estimated just under 160 million euros came a defensive chief (Harry Maguire), a young full-back (Aaron Wan-Bissaka) and an attacker with a future (Daniel James). Your achievements encourage you.

Nevertheless, the squad remains a major construction site. Solskjaer needed "two or three transfer phases and incredibly much money to even come anywhere near where the club in his own opinion belongs," believes ex-national striker Shearer.

With incredibly much money, however, Manchester United has tried since Ferguson's departure.