Louis Van Gaal and Manchester United in Trouble
By Chris Jones
Manchester United have had a perfect start, collecting 1-0 victories against Tottenham and Aston Villa to open up the Premier League season. They also added a 3-1 victory against Belgian squad Club Club Brugge in a Champions League qualifying first leg match.
If you are just looking at results, it seems like manager Louis Van Gaal and his squad are off to a great start towards their title quest.
However, if you look closer, there are many underlying problems that could derail their season and threaten their spot in the Premier League top four.
When you look at all of the headlines and all that has happened surrounding Manchester United, it looks like the club is just short of turmoil, and how Van Gaal and the squad deals with it will be very defining for their season.
One of the problems that United have faced has been the great amount of disappointment when it comes to the transfer window.
Van Gaal and the club started off exceptionally well with the signing of winger Memphis Depay and defender Matteo Darmian, but the amount of players who they have been linked to who have signed elsewhere has been shocking, considering the perceived high status of the club.
The Red Devils have been linked with the likes of Nathaniel Clyne, Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale, Thomas Muller, Harry Kane, Christian Benteke, Nicolas Otamendi, and Pedro.
More from Manchester United
- Four forwards Manchester United might like to replace Cristiano Ronaldo
- Cristiano Ronaldo hits out at Manchester United
- Aston Villa vs. Man United: How Erik ten Hag can replace Bruno Fernandes
- Real Sociedad 0-1 Manchester United: Three talking points
- A few pointers to the Cristiano Ronaldo issue at Manchester United
None of them signed with the club.
The most recent snub came when Pedro, who had long been linked with a move to Old Trafford, signed with rival title contender Chelsea.
Sources say that part of Pedro’s decision to spurn Manchester United and join Chelsea was because of how fellow Spaniard, former Barcelona teammate, and outcast United goalkeeper Victor Valdes told him to stay away from the club.
Valdes has had a very rough relationship with manager Louis Van Gaal, and has been frozen out and replaced with Argentinian Sergio Romero.
The Pedro transfer saga shines a bigger light on the issue that is enigmatic manager Louis Van Gaal, who has created plenty of headlines early in the season.
Most of those headlines have come from the disputes surround him and star goalkeeper David De Gea, who has been linked with a move to Spanish giant Real Madrid for most of the summer.
Van Gaal has received a lot of flack for his handling of the whole situation, as he has benched De Gea for each of Manchester United’s first three competitive matches.
The Dutch manager has had many incidents with his players, and might have played a role in many of the top European players avoiding signing for Manchester United.
His management, along with the lack of transfer window business may come back to bite them later in the season, as they still have holes in two major areas.
One of the major problem areas is at the striker position, which has been filled by Wayne Rooney, which has seen horrible results.
Despite the perfect record so far in the league season, there have been many worries surrounding the attack, who have only produced one goal.
The Manchester United stalwart has been thrust into a position in which he is not greatly familiar with, and has only produced two shots in the two Premier League games this season.
Rooney has not had a game where he produced more than one shot on goal since February.
Van Gaal and the club desperately need Rooney to step up due to the fact that the other options are Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Marouane Fellaini.
The Red Devils are putting all of their hopes in Rooney succeeding at the striker position, which could definitely backfire.
Winger Memphis Depay has shown moments of brilliance, including two goals against Club Brugge, but he is not the center forward goalscorer that they desperately need.
Another problem area could come on the other side of the pitch for United, where they have also been quiet on the transfer front.
More from Playing for 90
- Alexia Putellas reaches 400 games with Barcelona
- Everything you need to know ahead of the 250th ‘Super Clásico’
- Barcelona put five past Real Betis
- Manchester City suffer but come away with win over West Ham
- Baffling Liga MX ruling strips Puebla of a hard-earned victory
Their defense has produced two league clean sheets so far, but how long can they survive against top competition with Daley Blind and Chris Smalling at the centre back positions?
De Gea was such an integral part of covering for a weak defense last season, but with his possible departure, they might be in a great deal of trouble defending.
After qualifying for the Champions League last season, expectations were high around Old Trafford with fans hoping for a serious title challenge.
While they have won their first two games, things are not looking as bright for Louis Van Gaal and Manchester United.