Manchester United’s 2020-2021 season started off on the wrong foot, however Solskjaer and his men sorted out their issues and managed to finish second in the League.
A win record of 21-11-6 doesn’t look bad given the way they started. Let’s take a look at how the past season went, and review which players contributed most to the success.
A Look at the 2020-2021 Season
In many ways, this was both a good and bad year for Manchester United, but the future ultimately looks promising. One notable moment came when the club trounced Southampton 9-0 at Old Trafford. This was a dazzling display of football prowess.
Manchester United played with a ferocity that reminded us of the good old days. Seven different players scored as the club systematically dismantled Southampton.
However, there were also moments in the season that were not particularly reassuring. One of these moments took place in the same venue on October 4th 2020. Most fans can recall, the game ended in a 1-6 loss to Tottenham. This was a particularly devastating defeat that certainly marked a low point for the team.
Unfortunately, the club also faced disappointment in major tournaments. Both the Champions League and FA Cup efforts ended without a trophy. United’s Europa League final against Villarreal ended as a defeat as well.
This is definitely not what Manchester United fans were hoping for at the end the season. Individual performances and the results from some of the League games were reassuring and showed glimpses of what the future holds for the club.
The Most Important Players of the Season
It takes the effort of numerous players to earn a winning record, and this past season we saw some brilliant talent shine at Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes certainly needs to be acknowledged before anyone else.
In a total of 58 matches across all competitions, Fernandes returned 28 goals and 18 assists, making him the most productive player.
Even with injuries accounted for, Marcus Rashford played exceptionally well. The English striker scored 22 goals and contributed 9 assists across 57 matches. Edinson Cavani did well, scoring 10 goals and playing like a much younger man despite being 34 years old. Luke Shaw also brought a very strong energy to the defence this season. Mason Greenwood started slow and then managed to return 8 goals in his last 14 games.
While club captain Harry Maguire sustained ankle ligament damage and was sidelined with an injury during May. When he is on the pitch he is a capable defender that can lead the squad. This is yet another reason to reflect on the current state of the professional football fixture schedule. While all fans may be well aware of the physical demands required of elite-level footballers, few understand just how overwhelming these schedules are. The defender was forced to watch the Europa League final from the sidelines.
Future Outlook, Looking Ahead to Next Season
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the rest of Manchester United’s management have a clear vision of what they want out of this team. They should be looking to add some new talent in key positions in the coming weeks. More than anything, we are continuously hearing that the club needs depth, and this was one of their weaknesses throughout the season.
The entire squad needs to be padded with additional depth. key positions including centre-back, defensive midfielder needs new signings. The addition of Jadon Sancho has gotten the fans excited and rightly so. It remains to be seen if Ed Woodward can go on and complete few more deals to bolster the squad.
