Questionable squad depth
Manchester United have had to contend with some significant injuries to key players. However, most other teams deal with the same problems throughout the course of a nine month season.
It has affected the Red Devils more than other clubs due to the lack of experienced back ups.
Take for example the loss of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede scored 28 goals before being sidelined with a knee injury. 19-year-old Marcus Rashford is United’s second highest scorer this season with 11 goals. Rashford is a an exciting prospect, but he doesn’t have the experience to make up for the loss of Ibrahimovic.
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Then there’s Wayne Rooney. The one time United star has not featured often under Mourinho. At 31, Rooney is not the goal scoring machine that he once was.
United’s midfield also lacks depth. 35-year-old Michael Carrick has been forced in to playing more often than a player of his age usually does.
Marouane Fellaini is another example of a player that is being relied on too often. Both he and Carrick are slow and Fellaini is often an accident waiting to happen.
Defender Eric Bailly has had a breakout season with 42 appearance for United this campaign. The Ivorian was meant to serve as a back-up after signing from Villarreal last summer. Instead he was thrust in to first team action.
United must work on squad depth if they want to get players such as James Rodriguez to sign.