It is not easy being a Manchester United supporter. One minute you’re sitting pretty on the back of a six match unbeaten run with the top four all but confirmed. and then the next you’ve got Liverpool breathing down your neck promising to snatch that Champions League place out of your grasp.
With only three matches to go United still have their fate in their own hands, but games against Crystal Palace and Arsenal make it unlikely, especially considering their current form, that they will secure all remaining nine points.
Palace, under Alan Pardew, are becoming a difficult team to break down, while Arsenal have already beaten the Red Devils once this season. United can take heart from the fact that they did have a 2-1 victory over the Gunners back in November, so it really will depend on individual sparks of genius or errors on the day.
United must be feeling quite jittery and more than just a little annoyed at themselves for allowing three consecutive defeats to potentially derail their season. Not long ago there was talk of even possibly catching Chelsea, but now it has come to this.
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Fortunately Liverpool do have a difficult final furlong, with their last fixtures against the champions Chelsea, Palace and then Stoke. All three will be difficult games for the Reds and although the Blues have wrapped up the title, they will still want to play for pride in front of their home supporters at Stamford Bridge.
Despite having spent a ridiculous amount of money last summer, Louis van Gaal has tried to shape his newly acquired squad, United still have a long way to go before they can compete for the title, particularly as the three teams ahead of them are already stronger than they are and intend to beef up further this summer.
Their main priority will need to be the signing of a prolific striker, though United could use some improvement across the pitch. Van Gaal will be very busy this summer with not only bringing in new players but also deciding who needs to make way. Players will need time to settle in at the club and adjust to the league so the target should be just a solid campaign which will see United holding court in the top four through-out the season.
That would be a vast improvement on this year, which apart from their impressive few weeks, saw the team not playing as confidently as both the manager and supporters would have liked.
If Liverpool do overtake United, then the season will have been a disaster. Not because they should have all gelled together quicker, but because last year’s failure to make the Champions League made this year’s qualification non-negotiable.
It should be remembered that not all players can join the league like Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and perform like they’ve been here for years, some need time to adjust and that’s what’s happening with United.
Even if they only make the top four on goal difference it will have been a successful campaign. Then, come the start of the new season, that is when the hard work starts and the last nine months have proven that there will be a lot of it still needing to be done.
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