Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup on Sunday after a dramatic night in the King Power Stadium. The hosts took the lead after 24 minutes as Kelechi Iheanacho capitalised on Fred’s mistake, but the Red Devils were handed a lifeline when Mason Greenwood bagged the equalising goal. However, the Foxes scored two goals in the second forty-five minutes to reach the competition’s semi-finals.
It’s not the first time that individual mistakes have cost United severely this season; however, the club’s lack of silverware continues to test the fans’ patience.
Here, in this article, we look at three Manchester United players who have failed to achieve their usual standards this season.
Anthony Martial
After thirty-five goal contributions in forty-eight appearances across all competitions last season, the United fans certainly expected the Frenchman to be one of their main and most consistent goal threats this season.
However, he has found himself struggling in front of the goal with just four Premier League goals this term. The 25-year-old’s inability to convert big chances has cost his side on several occasions. Often accused of being unambitious and callous, Solskjaer could show him the exit door in the upcoming transfer window if he doesn’t manage to turn things around soon.
In a recent episode of TouchlineTalk, journalist Dean Jones has revealed that Martial could be offloaded in the coming months if the board receives a fair offer.
“I think that they’re definitely considering selling him if a good offer was to come in.” – Jones said.
“I don’t think Anthony Martial is that person, even when he does have good games, he still misses big chances, hasn’t become the clinical number nine that you thought you were going to be getting there.”
Harry Maguire
The fact that we had to include the skipper’s name on the list of three underperforming players speaks a lot about the present state of the United defence.
It’s beyond any doubt that the England international has been very inconsistent at the back this season. Be it positioning, tackling, or defensive judgements, Maguire’s individual mistakes at the heart of United’s backline has caused some severe blunders – United’s defeat to an injury-hit Leicester City side in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup being the most recent example. The 28-year-old centre-back struggled to cope with Jamie Vardy’s pace and slick movement throughout the game and was nowhere to be found during Leicester’s counter-attacks.
Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the skipper is hardly in danger of losing his place in the starting line-up, but certain things need to change if the club wants to challenge for major silverware in the coming seasons.
David de Gea
There’s no doubt about the fact that the Spanish shot-stopper has been one of his side’s best performers over the past decade; however, some of his individual errors in between the sticks this season have paved the way for Dean Henderson to put up a strong challenge for the number one role.
With eleven shutouts in eighteen matches this term, the fans strongly believe that the Englishman deserves to start games week in week out.
“I think it’s Henderson now. I think he’s taken over.” – Paul Scholes told BT Sport on the battle to fill the Red Devils’ number one spot.
“I thought David had been lucky after the Everton game to keep his place. He made a couple of mistakes where he could’ve done better.”
“Not glaringly obvious mistakes, but I just feel a bit more confident with Henderson there. It seems a little bit more relaxed.”
