‘Orange’ seal at Old Trafford

When you walk the streets of Manchester these days, you see new stimuli in the rivalry between United and City fans. The two opposing sides of the city, the red and the light blue, revived their bitter feud on Saturday at Wembley, at the opening of the English football season, on the occasion of the Community Shield, in which the ‘citizens’ of Pep Guardiola in the penalty shootout. However, a sense of pride and optimism was defeated, once again, among the red followers of the ‘red devils’.

The decisions of Jim Ratcliffethe new shareholder and sporting helm of the club, is often liked and also the progressive ‘Dutchization’ seen in the latest decisions to strengthen the team. Tonight the season begins at Old Trafford for a Manchester United that has grown and renewed expectations, once again under the command of the once questioned Erik Ten Hag.

They will face Fulham in front of their fans, in a first match where the last two signings, the centre-back, are expected to play. De Ligt and on the side Mazraouicame from Bayern Munich. Both played for coach Ten Hag when he led Ajax to the semi-finals of the Champions League and now train at Carrington with a squad that has another quiet protagonist in the shadows: Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy, in the shadows

The former United goalscorer is, along with another Dutchman, René Hake, one of two new technical assistants, and wants to contribute his experience to influence United’s new style. ‘Oranje seal’ to find a qualitative leap for the club with the most followers in England. Sounds like a myth Van Nistelrooystar of the recent past, came to serve as interim coach in Carrington, a decision with a double reading, since he came to promote the project, but also emerges as a possible solution or replacement of May Hagif the atmosphere at Old Trafford has turned cloudy and the results have been chaotic.

The Cup title, in the last game of the previous season, against their great rivals, Manchester City, became the savior of the former Ajax coach, who was Jim Ratcliffe He wanted to give her another chance. Continuation was a defensible decision against those who questioned the decision: no replacements sowed clear unity, and there was a tacit acknowledgment of the dark streak of damage done last year.

This year, United are not immune to starting squad mishaps either. A foot injury ruled out the central defender who recently arrived from Lille, Leny Yoro, for three months, and neither did the scorer Hojlund He is ready to face the first games of the course. In return, May Hag hoping that another Dutchman, recently signed Zirkzeebe the stimulus their forwards need to exploit attacks on the wings. Garnacho, Rashford, Sancho, Diallo and Antony.

Manchester United’s preseason, some of which was held in Southern California, has been lively in many ways. Already seen how Van Nistelrooy, scorer of 150 goals in 219 games for United, he conducted quick attack and defense sessions of less than two minutes each on the small, narrow pitch, to improve touch and speed. Sitting in the stands watching the Dutchman Dan AshworthUnited’s sporting director, its technical director, Jason Wilcoxand Dave Brailsford, who is the executive supervisor of the club patron and owner of Ineos, Jim Ratcliffe. The picture is very clear about the great teamwork and joint work with which United is facing this exciting project.

The challenge of the new stadium

One of the most urgent matters concerning the new management team is the resolution of doubts about the new Old Trafford. Jim Ratcliffe He is in favor of a new stadium with a capacity for 100,000 spectators, and wants to make the decision before December. The new construction will cost more than £2bn, will take around six years and will be built next to the old stadium grounds.

It should convince the most nostalgic sector of fans. The board’s trip to California served to visit some of the stadiums in America that could be a reference and model, such as the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, in the County of Los Angeles, where United played against Arsenal.

It has a capacity for 70,240 people that can reach 100,240 and incorporates a large leisure complex, similar to what the club wants to build. United’s new project does not want to leave anything to chance as it examines the best way to utilize Old Trafford’s sentimental footprint. With the Premier’s official premiere tonight, fans of the ‘red devils’ will take the pulse of this new phase of the Dutchman’s marked commitment.