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If you had told Manchester United fans in early 2020 that they would finish the year second in the Premier League table, behind only Liverpool, they would certainly have accepted it. The Red Devils have been flying under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lately, setting aside a troubled star from the season to emerge as true title contenders. And things could be about to get even better in 2021.
Earlier this season, Solskjaer seemed destined for capture.
After overseeing the nightmarish losses to Crystal Palace and Tottenham, and failing to achieve major transfer goals Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham and Jack Grealish, all signs pointed to a parting ways.
Mauricio Pochettino was (and at the time of writing this article still is) available. With Ed Woodward looking up to the Argentine for a long time, it seemed only a matter of time before the former Spurs manager showed up at Old Trafford.
A game against Everton in November looked like it would be his David Moyes moment. Moyes, of course, lost his job after a reprimand defeat at Goodison Park in April 2014.
But this time there was no death, and no defeat.
United won 3-1 that day and have not looked back in time since. They are currently unbeaten in the Premier League since a 1-0 loss to Arsenal in November.
And, he whispers under his breath, they could be about to get even better.
This United team still doesn’t dare as it did during Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at the helm. There are moments when they look lost, like against the Wolves on Tuesday.
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But this Red Devils team has started to win more consistently. The win over the Wolves on Tuesday night was the seventh of nine games.
And his best players are improving.
Some thought Bruno Fernandes was destined for a drop in form when the campaign began, after scoring eight goals and recording eight assists in 14 league games last season.
However, the 26-year-old has already improved on those stats, managing 17 goals in 15 league games as the season approaches halfway.
Marcus Rashford is also maturing well. Both on and off the field.
Off the pitch, he has been nothing short of brilliant, and his campaign to end child poverty across the UK saw him duly recognized at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
And, in that, he took a step forward. He has already scored 14 goals in all competitions this period, improving at a time when Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood have failed.
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Greenwood and Martial have scored only once each in the top flight this span. But if Solskjaer can get the pair to shoot, United’s attack will be truly terrifying.
Paul Pogba has started to come back at the perfect time, while Fred and Scott McTominay’s influence on this side becomes more obvious with each passing week.
On the back, United’s struggles have been well documented.
But Harry Maguire is starting to get consistent again, while Eric Bailly’s return from injury has given them another boost. The Ivorian, against Wolves and Leicester recently, was impressive.
In goal, David De Gea is slowly returning to his best level. It has started since Dean Henderson returned from Sheffield United and Solskjaer is now truly blessed with two top performers.
In 2021, the young duo Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo should unleash themselves on the Premier League defenses.
United plan to give Pellistri his chance in upcoming cup matches, with the Uruguayan looking good during his time in the youth setup so far.
They will ease Diallo’s entry but, with the young Atalanta star drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi, it won’t be long before Solskjaer gives him a chance as well.
All of that is tempting enough.
But United could be about to improve by strengthening their squad, with reports suggesting they are willing to spend cash this January.
Max Aarons, Kieran Trippier and Moisés Caicedo have become transfer targets ahead of the New Year after having impressed at Norwich, Atlético de Madrid and Independiente del Valle respectively.
Solskjaer also remains interested in the Borussia Dortmund pair, Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland, who could be feasibly pursued at the end of the season. If Champions League football allows it, of course.
So as we move into another year, United seems to be getting back to their best.
It could be a 12-month lead for Solskjaer and his young team. And that says a lot about the remarkable transformation they have undergone with the Norwegian.
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