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Manchester United’s new season begins on Saturday and there is mixed hope.
United’s prospects have been downplayed from the highs in July, after a summer that so far has felt quite disappointing.
If there’s one thing we learned from United’s success after the shutdown in June and July, it’s that the club’s key players need to stay fit.
Even an injury to Luke Shaw proved detrimental towards the end of the season.
Keeping everyone in shape throughout the year is sadly unrealistic. United just have to handle it in the best way possible and hope for luck along the way.
Injuries in midfield from last season left United stretched thin, while a defensive crisis in early January left Phil Jones as the starter for the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinals.
A player cannot do without United
There is a player that Manchester United cannot afford to lose. And that’s Anthony Martial.
Martial’s 2020 performances for United were simply outstanding.
Even when he wasn’t scoring, he was changing the game, be it with the assists he provided to his teammates against Southampton and Wrest Ham, or the penalties he won against Leicester and Copenhagen.
Martial is the liaison man in United’s attack, with an established connection already forged with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
Last season he finished as the top scorer with 23 goals, in addition to giving three assists.
The worst part of Manchester United’s season came in September and October when Martial was injured. The team just wasn’t the same.
United have Odion Ighalo now as a back-up, while Mason Greenwood can benefit from a career as a center forward if need be, but then you would lose the team’s upper right wing option.
More options in midfield
The prospect of being without Bruno Fernandes would be terrifying, but not as scary as before, thanks to the signing of Donny van de Beek.
Paul Pogba can also move into an attacking role if necessary, so United have options in midfield if the worst case scenario occurs.
We don’t know how well Pogba can cope and move on without Fernandes on this side since his return, because we haven’t needed him, thankfully.
As for the team, United still lacks coverage in key areas, especially width, and there is still a quality gap between the first eleven and the players off the bench.
Being lucky and keeping our best players in shape is crucial. But Anthony Martial is the most important of all.
Take out the Frenchman and United will quickly discover how irreplaceable he is.
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