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LIVERPOOL, England – Something is starting to stir at Manchester United, perhaps even the awakening of a club that seemed to be sleepwalking for the past seven years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement as manager. A 2-0 victory in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in Everton is by no means the golden moment of achievement, but rather another proof that United are finally making a comeback.
Edinson Cavani’s goal in the 88th minute, after United dominated Carlo Ancelotti’s side at Goodison Park, was the breakthrough that secured victory before Anthony Martial added a second in the final moment of injury time. Having made 15 attempts on goal, compared to Everton’s six, and enjoyed 65% possession during the 90 minutes, United’s superiority was clear and their victory booked a one-legged January semi-final against the current Manchester City at Old Trafford, which will be another proof of the progress made by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team after three appearances to the semi-finals in national and European cup competitions last season.
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Solskjaer’s team needs to win trophies, no matter the circumstances, because United is a club that demands success in all competitions. Having failed to win any trophies since the Europa League with José Mourinho in 2017, the pressure is building at Old Trafford to end that streak.
“We are expected to win trophies,” United captain Harry Maguire said after this victory. “It’s important to get to these big games, but we have to start winning them and lift some trophies for this club.”
That’s the ticket price with United, but Solskjaer’s success is a separate issue. After some tough bumps and setbacks, including this season’s 6-1 home loss to Tottenham, there is no denying that the Norwegian now appears to have pulled United out of the turmoil and into a cloudless blue sky.
Simply put, United looked like a team again, and against Everton there were periods of the game where they cupped their opponents with some skillful passes and moves. Cavani and Bruno Fernandes, two high-profile signings in 2020, have raised the bar on the field with their quality, and it is spreading to others.
And by winning at Goodison for the second time this season, United extended their unbeaten streak in home games away to 20, dating back to a loss at Liverpool in January. If they avoid defeat at Leicester City on Saturday, United will travel to Anfield next month and that sequence will last a whole year, which would be a remarkable achievement for any team. If they go to Liverpool and win, that would take the anticipation and excitement at United to another level and generate genuine hopes for a first Premier League title since Ferguson left the stage in 2013.
But that’s the danger with Solskjaer’s United. They have shown flashes of promise and hinted to have turned a corner earlier, only to stumble and fall in spectacular fashion. It’s been a boom and bust since Solskjaer arrived in December 2018, but this performance at Everton, three days after Leeds United’s 6-2 demolition, was another indication that positive times were ahead.
However, maybe this time it’s real. There is hunger in this United team, best exemplified by Cavani, with the 33-year-old chasing opponents all night before scoring his impressive left foot effort in the final stages. He also has the winning mentality, honed during a period of great success with Paris Saint-Germain, which is sure to inspire those around him in the United team who have yet to taste the sensation of lifting a major trophy.
However, United have to take the next step to show that they are winners rather than near men.
“We’ve had three semi-finals last year, of course, and it’s not a step far enough,” Solskjaer said. “This year again, like last year, we play City in the semi-finals, so let’s see how it goes.”
City, Chelsea and Sevilla FC defeated United in the semi-finals last season, and the clash against Pep Guardiola’s side will give Solskjaer and his team a chance to avenge last January’s Carabao Cup exit. Since the start of last season, United have beaten City three times in all competitions, but beating them in a single-cup tie, with a place in the final at stake, is a test that Solskjaer and his players must overcome. .
All the most successful teams of the past have had to overcome that hurdle and win their first trophy. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, today’s dominant force, lost three major finals before finally enjoying that winning sensation, and their success in the 2019 Champions League saw them win the Premier League earlier this year.
United don’t seem ready to go head-to-head with Liverpool right now, but if or when they win their first trophy, they will do so with the faith and confidence that they can win more. That’s where they are now. Progress has been made and United are competitive again, but the next step is to win the silver medal and show they have learned from last season’s near misses.
