Manchester United’s frantic Premier League 2020/21 season is over.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has closed the gap to the top of the table and sealed Champions League qualification more comfortably than the campaign before.
Here are five things we learned from a season like no other…
The squad needs more depth
This was laid bare when Solskjaer rotated his side for the visit of Leicester earlier this month.
In that game and others where he has tried to rotate to keep his side fresh – Istanbul Basaksehir away, Sheffield United at home and Leicester in the cup spring to mind – the performance hasn’t been good enough.
There aren’t enough options on the bench for Solskjaer to change a game and there is still a huge drop off when Bruno Fernandes doesn’t play.
Chelsea and Manchester City look to have stronger squads than United and there’s a big summer ahead if United are to rectify that.
Luke Shaw is also a case study in how competition for places can improve performances.
Alex Telles came in on deadline day and might have been expected to take the Englishman’s spot on the side. But Shaw has responded excellently. That shows the importance of quality players battling in every position.
United still defend too deep
One issue with the central defensive pairing of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof is a lack of pace.
Eric Bailly could help with that but his passing is erratic and his fitness cannot be relied on.
It means that United defend too deep, scared of being caught in behind by rapid forwards.
That hampers attempts to press the opponents and make the pitch as small as possible.
A rare exception came away from home against Chelsea, because Olivier Giroud started and Solskjaer knew he wouldn’t outpace his backline.
United looked better for it and Solskjaer needs to figure out a way to get his backline higher up the pitch, and constantly looking to squeeze the play rather than sitting back and trying to defend the penalty box.
Still too many soft goals conceded
The aforementioned Istanbul and Sheffield United games saw United concede incredibly soft goals, the kind an elite side should never let in.
A lack of basic organisation and desire to defend has often been at fault, and it hasn’t been the only time.
United also still struggle to defend set pieces, even with the towering presence of Maguire in the backline.
The message still hasn’t got through that stopping those easy goals and doing the basics could have a major impact come the end of the season.
They cost points and United cannot afford to let them in if they want to launch a title challenge next season.
Midfield is a transfer priority
Of course there is talk of United needing a new right winger and centre forward.
But if United went into next season with Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani filling those roles, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Both men have proven quality and goal threat.
But United need a clear upgrade in midfield. Scott McTominay and Fred will not dominate the biggest matches.
Paul Pogba’s best position still appears to be a conundrum and of course his future remains unresolved.
It might be less glamourous than signing a big-money forward like Jadon Sancho but a new central midfielder – and a new centre-half – would probably do more for United.
United are improving
There have been strides in the right direction, building on the momentum generated during Project Restart in 2020.
As mentioned, Shaw has been outstanding. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is getting better and Dean Henderson has shown signs he can be United’s long-term goalkeeper.
Bruno Fernandes has had a sensational season, and Marcus Rashford has remained a goal threat despite playing through the pain.
McTominay has boosted his goal output and looks a better all-round midfielder, Dan James has his confidence back, Greenwood’s shining and Cavani gives United a proper centre forward.
There’s enough there to be optimistic about, but also plenty of work to do to close the gap.
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