Are Manchester United falling Giants in Europe?

Following the recent comebacks to claim a victory and a draw against Newcastle and Chelsea respectively, many fans and football enthusiast were looking forward to the Champions league game against Juventus. The return of Cristiano Ronaldo to his old stomping ground, which he left 9 years ago, added the stardust effect to this blockbuster of an encounter. Manchester United were late into the stadium for the second consecutive champions league home game, with Jose Mourinho having to abandon the team bus in traffic and walk to Old Trafford. United started the match like they were still stuck in traffic. Slow in possession, playing without any urgency at all. Juventus played on the front foot from kickoff and they were dominant in possession form the word go. Their positive mentality bore fruit as they took the lead through Paulo Dybala, after some clever play on the right wing by united old boy Ronaldo.  Juventus had many opportunities to increase the score line and it took the heroics of David De Gea to spare United’s blushes, one has to wonder where they would have been if not for his heroics in goal these past few years. The 2^nd half started much like the 1^st half, with Juventus quicker out of the blocks. United did improve a little in the 2^nd half, committing more bodies forward, but their interplay in the final third was lacking in quality. Their only moment of quality came when Pogba rolled Matuidi and struck a left footed shot which hit the post, and had that gone in it would have been harsh on Juventus who bossed the game from the start. This defeat was United’s fourth home defeat in their last 13 games at Old Trafford in all competitions. According to Opta stats Manchester United failed to score in consecutive home Champions League matches for the first time since November 2005. This team has been very blunt in attack this season.

Jose Mourinho was full of praise for the Italian side, speaking after the game he claimed that there was a huge gulf of quality between the two teams. He said Juventus were a different level of quality and stability. He praised Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci for their astute defensive display. He also appeared to aim a dig at the United Hierarchy. Mourinho was clear that United are inferior to the best sides on the continent and further investment is needed despite the manager having spent close to £400m in his five transfer windows at the club. He said “they had Gonzalo Higuaín, Mario Mandzukic, Dybala and want more. They want Cristiano Ronaldo. They had Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini, Daniele Rugani – they are not happy, they want more, they want Leonardo Bonucci and they go for the best players in the world. So: big club with a big past but with also a big desire to have a big future.”

When asked if this was the kind of investment United required, Mourinho said. “To go to the Juventus level? Barcelona level? Real Madrid level? Manchester City level? How can you reach this level? Yes [by buying the best players]. It is not easy because many of the players they belong to these top teams, so we work with what we have and we try to improve with what we have.”

The statement from Mourinho shows how far Manchester United has fallen from the upper echelons of European football. Gone are the days when teams come to Old Trafford and have already been beaten before a kick of the ball, such was the aura United projected. Those days are long gone now and the club appears far from getting it right, there is something not quite right at the club and it cuts across the Players, Manger & Coaching staff and finally the Board. Manchester United are a shadow of their former self and it doesn’t feel like the situation will get any better soon. United take on Everton at Old Trafford on Sunday and they desperately need 3 points as they are wallowing in 10^th position with 14 points from 9 games.  United play Juventus in a fortnight and defeat in Turin might be dire to their chances of claiming the 2^nd qualifying spot in the group. The last time United got to the quarterfinal of the Champions League was 4 years ago under David Moyes, when they were defeated by Bayern Munich in 2014.  They have since fallen into the doldrums of the Europa League under Louis Van Gaal and Mourinho, although the latter did win the trophy for the club in his 1^st season with them. It seems like Man United tend to take one step forward and then 3 steps backward. The team is very Inconsistent at the moment, whether that is down to the quality of players, the mentality of the players or the coaching, no one really knows.

It remains to be seen what becomes of Manchester United in Europe, as a Fan one can only hope for better days ahead.