Tension at Old Trafford

‘No reason exempts you from getting results,’ says the charismatic Marcelo Bielsa in the most difficult moments of his time at Leeds United, when he was on the verge of being dismissed. You can think about it and share it too Erik ten Haagthe now questioned coach of Manchester United, who is experiencing his most controversial period with the ‘red devils’, and is using all possible mitigating factors for the crisis of results, to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the new co-owner of the club, let him continue. His claim coincides with the visit to Old Trafford of Arsenal, leaders and candidates to dethrone Manchester City, who have staked all their chances on this match. The Gunners’ need came at the worst possible time for Ten Hag. No more fighting in the tense atmosphere for the two clubs.

United’s worst moment was seen in the humiliating 4-0 drubbing by Crystal Palace of the United States on Monday. Olise, Eze, Wharton and Matetawell trained Austrian now Oliver Glasner. Seen the worst image of the team May Hag, without answers to many questions about the poor performance, other than appealing to the lack of central defenders and the injuries that justify, in part, the weakness of their team. “I don’t think about my future,” said the Dutchman, hiding everything in the FA Cup final against City, and lamenting a very disappointing second year for the club, which failed to even secure European qualification.

For both teams, Sunday afternoon’s showdown carries the same pressure as the final, as neither of them will lose. The Gunners’ ambition, boosted by their excellent defensive performance, makes the challenge difficult for United, who are on a worryingly negative run of results, will be without many key players and, as eighth in the Premier, In Only 54 points in 35 games, he needs to add another five points in three games, in the context of a serious return to his style of play.

internal errors

Ratcliffe and his new Ineos work team at United has no intention of firing May Hag ahead of the FA Cup final on May 25 at Wembley, despite calls from some of the club’s former players to make immediate changes. At Carrington, however, there are persistent rumors that the current England coach, Gareth Southgate, has been contacted to do the club project after the European Championship in Germany. The truth is that the new co-owner of Ineos still harbors doubts about the path to take, which he describes in a descriptive phrase of the moment: “We have to walk towards the right solution, not run towards the wrong solution. “

May Hag He is a good coach, and he proved it in his first twelve months at the club, where he was able to establish a line of regeneration, establish some changes in the culture of the club in the youth team and recover even the best. Marcus Rashford. He closed his first season with a very positive record (third in the Premier League, EFL Carabao Cup champion, FA Cup finalist and Europa League quarterfinalist). But everything went wrong soon.

This year, including injuries of Lysander, Shaw and Varanewhich prevents him from repeating defensive alignments and decreasing the performance of props such as Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Rashford, the Dutchman entered a process of disorientation. It doesn’t feel like it can change course or be a solution for the future, but it doesn’t lack faith and strength.

May Hag He complained about many internal mistakes in a club that needed to modernize. These same problems have already affected the work of Van Gaal, Mourinho and Solskjaer. But, with all certainty, future decisions will be marked by the results of the next 15 days, and especially the FA Cup final, against their firm blue rivals, City of Pep Guardiola. Against holes of lack of coordination in the structure, Ratcliffe has chosen a radical change in management, with a series of appointments: Omar Berradasigned from Manchester City as executive director; Jason Wilcoxfrom Southampton, as technical director, and the planned future appointment of Dan Ashworthas director of football, interrupted by a compensation dispute with Newcastle United.

Against the strongest leader

Every United game is now a test until the end of the season, and Arsenal’s arrival on Sunday coincides with a very tense atmosphere in the Old Trafford stand. United fans are angry and confused after a year full of shocks, which they have lived with heavy hearts in the face of a series of unpredictable matches out of control. Only success can relieve the pressure on May Hagwho then have to face Newcastle and Brighton in their final two games, in search of, at least, seventh place.

For the North London Gunners, who came to the top of the Premier League, there is no room for mistakes either in the final stage, when they are in the most favorable situation to win the title in 20 years. Although they still need a slip from City, they play the season in Manchester, and 15 clean sheets achieved this year in their favor with David Raya. Old Trafford is by no means an easy place, but this time Mikel Arteta He has reached the decisive moment of the season with all the emotional aspects under control and shares the theory used by Sir Alex Ferguson, in United’s best years: “A good attack wins you games. “A good defense, championship.”