Alexander Brian

Manchester United’s Europa League hopes took another blow on Sunday afternoon after the Reds were defeated 1-0 by Arsenal in the Premier League at Old Trafford.

A first half goal from Leandro Trossard was enough to hand the Gunners all three points and in doing so condemn the Reds to their fourteenth defeat of the Premier League season thus far.

Speaking to the press after the match Ten Hag admitted that the recent injury woes had taken its tole on the squad but conceded that the Reds should still have created more chances and that there are massive problems at the club.

The game itself was one of chances few and far between. The only goal of the game came in the 20th minute after a mistimed error from Casemiro which led to Trossard slotting the ball home to put the Gunners in front. The Reds did respond after going behind and truth be told put in an overall decent enough performance but it wasn’t enough to turn the game around.

The defeat now leaves Manchester United sitting in eighth place three points behind Newcastle in sixth and with the Magpies to come on Wednesday night at Old Trafford it brings with it another must win game for Erik Ten Hag.

The Champions League may now be out of reach but its still pivotal the Reds manage to get European football for next season. Money and revenue the club get aside playing in Europe is still massively important for Manchester United and would also give the younger players in the squad opportunities to impress.

It may have not been the season we had all been hoping for but with the FA Cup final to come and a place in Europe still to play for there is still a chance yet for Ten Hag to salvage something of the season and in doing so put the Reds in a better position going into next.

Manchester United will be looking at getting back to winning ways when they take on Arsenal in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds go into the game on the back of a bitterly disappointing 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday night whilst the Gunners ran out 3-0 winners over Bournemouth last weekend.

Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw all remain out injured for the clash however Bruno Fernandes could return having missed the Palace game through injury.

With a top four spot now gone a Europa League place is now the best Erik Ten Hag can hope for Manchester United in the Premier League this season. It may not be the competition we had been hoping for but it still represents European football and with just three games to go Ten Hag knows he can ill afford to drop any more points if the Reds are to secure Europa League football for next season but as games go this couldn’t be any more difficult.

Arsenal currently sit top of the Premier League table and are in contention to win their first League Title in 20 years. The Gunners have come on tremendously this season and in order for United to get a result here we will undoubtedly have to be at our very best.

Its a game we will inevitably go into as the underdogs in but despite our recent poor form i am quietly confident we can get something out of this. The Reds will be desperate to bounce back following Mondays defeat and given the pressure on Ten Hag at the moment i feel we will come out fighting and could cause the Gunners real problems.

Prediction. Manchester United 1 Arsenal 1

With the summer transfer window just around the corner rumors have inevitably started circulating linking Manchester United players with a number of clubs but one of those names which has been in the headlines over recent months is Casemiro.

Casemiro 32 joined the Reds back in the summer of 2022 and enjoyed a successful debut season at Old Trafford but fast forward to the present day things look very different and it now appears the Brazilian could be set to leave the club at the end of the season.

Clubs from all across Europe will most likely take a look at Casemiro but give his high wages his more likely destination will be Saudi Arabia.

Having started well enough Casemiro has endured a difficult time this season around at Old Trafford. The Reds performances haven’t helped matters but the Brazilian does appear to have lost a yard or so of pace and has been found wanting in more than a couple of games this season which begs the question as to whether or not he will stay at United beyond this season.

Its not that long ago Casemiro was one of the best midfielders in Europe and truth be told he is still a quality player but given his age and high wages a move away from Manchester United probably is the best move for both parties.

Manchester United’s poor end to the Premier League season continued on Monday night after the Reds were defeated 4-0 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Two goals from Michael Olise and strikes from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell was enough to hand Palace all three points and in doing so condemn Ten Hag’s men to their 13th defeat of the Premier League season.

The result now leaves the Reds sitting in 8th place two points behind Newcastle United in sixth place with just three games left to play.

Its only a month ago top four looked in reach but fast forward to the present day things look very different and now only the FA Cup can rescue what it left of the season for Erik Ten Hag at Manchester United.

Last nights performance was arguably United’s worst of the season so far. Right from the off we wasn’t at the races and Palace fully deserved the victory. Nobody expected the game to be easy but to lose so emphatically to a mid table Crystal Palace side just isnt good enough.

Truth be told had it not been for the FA Cup final there is an argument that Ten Hag would be on his way out of the door at the end of the season. Having made progress during his debut season the Reds have gone backwards this time round and now the FA Cup is Ten Hag’s only chance of salvaging the season if he is to keep his job for another year at Old Trafford.

With the end of the season looming rumors surrounding the future of Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag have inevitably already started circulating. After a promising first year at the club the Reds have gone backwards this season under the Dutchman and truth be told have fallen way short of expectations.

This season should have been the one which we kicked on and at the very least been involved in the Premier League Title race when instead we haven’t even made the top four. Getting to the FA Cup final may paper over the cracks but it wont hide the anger and disappointment amongst the Reds faithful of how poor United have been under Ten Hag this season.

It hasn’t been good enough and the Dutchman need to take a lot of responsibility for that but despite his flaws i still feel Ten Hag should be given another season at Old Trafford. Over the past ten years since Fergie we have changed managers far too many times and to do that again i feel would be a massive mistake.

The club may have gone backwards this year but its easy to forget that progress was made in his debut season and that Ten Hag is still a quality manager. At Ajax he was brilliant and there is no reason why he cannot still be a success at Manchester United if given the time.

We cannot just keep this cycle going replacing managers and at some point there needs to be some consistency which is why i think Ten Hag deserves another season.

Manchester United’s top four hopes came to an end on Saturday afternoon after the Reds were held to a 1-1 draw with Burnley at Old Trafford.

The result now leaves United in sixth place sitting 13 points behind Aston Villa in fourth and with just four games left to play the Europa League is now the best Ten Hag can hope for.

The Reds had thought they had done enough to win the game after Antony put United ahead late on in the second half but those hopes were dashed as Burnley equalized minutes later with a penalty in which Zeki Amdouni then converted.

Truth be told the result although disappointing didn’t really come as a surprise. Inconsistency has been Manchester United’s biggest flaw this season and given our recent performances you never felt super confident we would win this one particularly with Burnley battling to avoid the drop.

There has been far too many games this season which we have dropped silly points in and ultimately it has now cost the club a place in next seasons European Cup and with Manchester City in the FA Cup final to come Ten Hag knows he can ill afford for another poor display if he is to salvage what is left of the season.

Manchester United will be looking to keep their slim top four hopes alive when they take on Burnley in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds go into the game sitting 13 points behind Aston Villa in fourth place and with just five games left to play Ten Hag knows United’s chances of finishing inside the top four are admittedly a long shot.

Rasmus Hojlund is likely to lead the Reds attack against Burnley whilst duo Antony and Eriksen could also feature.

Having booked a place in the final of the FA Cup its fair to say Erik Ten Hag will have been breathing a huge sigh of relief this week. The Reds season was in danger of been all but over thankfully United made it past Coventry in the end and in securing a spot at Wembley it offers the Dutchman a chance to still salvage something of the season and in facing Burnley on Saturday it provides United with another opportunity to keep that winning momentum going but it wont be easy.

Burnley have all to play for in the battle to beat the drop and look to have turned a corner in recent weeks. The Clarets will be desperate to avoid relegation and its vital United do not underestimate their opponents if we are to take all three points.

Its a game we simply have to win and one which i think we will do albeit it will be a close affair.

Prediction. Manchester United 2 Burnley 1

Manchester United booked themselves a place in the FA Cup final on Sunday afternoon after beating Coventry City on penalties in the semi finals at Wembley.

The Reds had looked to be cruising to a place in the final leading 3-0 with just twenty minutes left to play but Coventry fought back to level the game up all square at 3-3 and later had a goal disallowed by VAR in extra time which would have given the Midlands side a stunning victory.

Having won the penalty shootout Ten Hag will certainly be breathing a huge sigh of relief this morning. The FA Cup is the only piece of silverware Manchester United can win this season and with the top four all but gone the Dutchman knew he could ill afford to lose this one if he was to keep his job for another season at Old Trafford.

The game itself was going according to plan for the first 70 minutes. First half goals from Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire has given United a 2-0 lead at half time and when Bruno Fernandes added a third the game looked all but over.

Few if any could have foreseen a comeback for Coventry and when Ellis Sims scored in the 71st minute it still looked nothing more than just a consolation. However it wasn’t too long later Coventry added a second through a deflected effort from Callum OHare. The drama wasn’t over there and the comeback was complete when Haji Wright slotted home a penalty in the stoppage time and if it wasnt for VAR would be out of the competition altogether.

United had only themselves to blame and to blow a 3-0 lead to a championship side just isnt acceptable. We managed to get out of jail in the end and fortunately now have a place in the FA Cup final but it doesn’t paper over the cracks.

Truth be told we are very lucky to still be in the FA Cup but when all said and done the main thing is we won the game. Ten Hag knows the FA Cup cup could save his season and with Manchester City to come in the final he will know that the Reds will have to seriously up their game if we are to win the FA Cup

Manchester United will be looking to book a place in the FA Cup final when they take on Coventry City on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds go into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend whilst Coventry were defeated 3-0 by Birmingham City in the Championship.

Antony could be recalled to the starting eleven after being pictured in training this week whilst Scott McTominay could also start.

With a top four spot now looking unlikely the FA Cup remains as realistically the only way left for Erik Ten Hag to salvage the season for Manchester United. It hasn’t been the season we had been hoping for under the Dutchman but by winning the FA Cup it would go a long way to rescuing the season and in doing so arguably save Ten Hag’s job for another year.

However it wont be easy. Coventry have enjoyed a largely successful season under Mark Robins and are still within a shout of making the play offs. Coventry may be the underdogs on Sunday but its vital we do not take our opponents lightly or else we could be on the end of a cup upset.

Its a game which simply have to win and one which i do think we will do albeit it will be close.

Prediction. Manchester United 2 Coventry 0

Manchester United will be looking to keep their top four hopes alive when they take on Bournemouth in the Premier League at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Reds go into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford last weekend whilst the hosts were defeated 2-1 by Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.

Kobbie Mainoo is widely expected to start after scoring against Liverpool last time out whilst Antony could also feature after coming off the bench in each of the last few Reds games.

Eleven points off top four with just seven games left to play it goes without saying that the chances of Manchester United finishing inside the top four places at the end of the season are slim. The Reds inconsistency has cost the club countless points this season and in facing Bournemouth Ten Hag knows he can ill afford to drop anymore if he is to keep the club’s top four ambitions alive.

Bournemouth have enjoyed a rather good season on the whole and currently find themselves sitting in 12th place. The Cherries had been picked to be in and amongst the relegation battle but have found themselves close to mid table and now look set for another season in the Premier League.

Games against Bournemouth at the Vitality have never been easy affairs and i expect it to be no different on Saturday. The hosts will more than likely give it a real go against United and will look to make life difficult but despite that this is still a game i expect United to win.

Prediction. Bournemouth 1 Manchester United 2