Chelsea loss is proof that Manchester United need depth in attack

Manchester United lost 3-1 to Chelsea in yesterday’s FA Cup semifinal.

While David De Gea’s calamitous errors have been the major talking point, Manchester United also offered little going forward. The Red Devils have looked electric in attack since the restart, but Ole Gunnar Solskjær opted to rest Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial against Chelsea.

In fairness, the 3-4-1-2 formation he adopted served them well against Frank Lampard’s men earlier this season in both the Premier League and the League Cup.

But Martial has been the driving force for Manchester United in recent months. The Frenchman has had a remarkable turnaround since January, forming a rewarding partnership with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.

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In his absence, United lacked the penetration to get past Chelsea’s five-man defence.

The result only reinforced the general opinion among fans that the club still needs Jadon Sancho despite the recent uptick in form and the emergence of Mason Greenwood.

An apparent lack of depth

While Daniel James and Odion Ighalo have been decent signings for United, it’s also clear that they are little more than impact substitutes.

United struggled in the absence of Rashford earlier in the season when he was out with a serious back injury. Indeed, Rashford and Martial have scored a combined 34 goals in the Premier League this season, which accounts for 54% of all of United’s goals.

Given how well they combine, it’s not surprising that one often looks lost without the other. While Fernandes and Greenwood have taken up some of the burden of goalscoring, there is definitely a necessity for more depth in the forward positions.

Jadon Sancho is reportedly edging closer to a move, and they need him now more than ever. The 20-year-old has also scored 17 goals and provided 16 assists in the Bundesliga this season, and he shares a lot of the same qualities of United’s other forwards.

Sancho would bring some much-needed creativity and finishing, and he has already linked up well with Rashford at the international level.

Improvements all across the board

Criticisms of Solskjær have often been unfair, and United have shown improvements in almost all major areas under the Norwegian.

Ed Woodward might have overpaid for Harry Maguire, but the former Leicester star has massively improved the defence alongside Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

There is also finally some depth in midfield now, with the arrival of Fernandes. Pogba and Matic have nailed down their places in the first-choice XI, while McTominay and Fred are decent back-ups.

Rashford and Martial have shown massive improvements, and Solskjær’s management of Greenwood has been impressive. Even so, it’s clear that attack is one of the areas with the biggest room for improvement.

Ighalo might have temporarily removed the need for a new centre forward, but United would likely have to go back in when his loan move expires next January.

Jesse Lingard is way past his best and could be shipped to West Ham next season. Greenwood is not yet ready to start games every week.

Sancho would provide an invaluable, versatile option in attack, capable of playing on the right or left. If United miss out on him, Ousmane Dembele and Hirving Lozano are being touted as possible alternatives.

United are headed in the right direction, but they are far from the finished product. Signings are still required, and Sancho would be a massive statement of intent to their rivals.