Manchester United won the fewest points in a Premier League season last year. It was the worst campaign at Old Trafford in decades and was almost reminiscent of the 1973/1974 relegation with Tommy Docherty.
Man United have only won 16 Premier League games and their zero goal difference (GD) also partly speaks to their lousy, something that hasn’t happened at the club since the inaugural Premier League season. 1992/1993.
Last season’s team, managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick in three different stints, produced all sorts of forgettable records and Erik ten Hag was the man chosen for the task of changing their fortunes. club.
After defeats to Brighton and Brentford, nothing seemed to have changed, but four straight wins, including wins over Liverpool and Arsenal, offered a glimpse of the team’s future under lead by Ten Hag.
Ten Hag’s MU is playing well.
Then a reality check with Manchester City takes place. Man United were beaten 6-3 at the Etihad in October and it was a horror display against Haloween. An excellent Antony goal and two late goals in the last five minutes of Anthony Martial made things less dire for Man United, who looked inferior to City in every way on the pitch. But it must be said that the reaction of the Red Devils that day was positive. There have been no major flaws since then and there is clear evidence of the progress Ten Hag is making week by week.
Man United beat Fulham in their last game before the World Cup break and have continued that winning streak well after the tournament in Qatar ended, with encouraging wins over Burnley in the League Cup, against Nottingham Forest and Wolves in the Premier League.
The New Year has arrived and that momentum has been extended. Man United beat Bournemouth 3-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, meaning the Reds have four wins, nine goals and no conceding since starting again. That has been reflected in the Premier League table, with Man United tied on Newcastle, although Eddie Howe’s side are still in third place on goal difference (GD). It’s a huge improvement but their GD is still behind the top competitors.
Ten Hag insists qualifying for the Champions League is his goal this season. Currently, United are strong contenders to qualify for the Champions League and that’s helped by poor performances from Tottenham and Liverpool, who have both struggled but have goal difference. better.
MU needs to regularly score and limit conceding like last time.
MU could end up in third place in the Premier League, which would make GD an unimportant metric, but it’s not out of the question that GD could affect fourth place, if teams chase it. more intense later in the season.
Regarding the Red Devils’ top rivals, Newcastle have a GD of 21, Liverpool have a GD of 12 and Tottenham have a GD of 12. MU’s number is 7. GD could become a point at the end of the season if Man United win. Get the actual score equal to the opponents.
Of course, the goal will be to comfortably qualify for the Champions League, but GD could have a say at the end of the season, like when Man City finished 4th ahead of Man United in 5th place because they have The goal difference is outstanding in the 2015/2016 season. It has happened before and it shouldn’t happen again.
Thanh Vu | 16:37 05/01/2023
