Manchester United’s defeat vs Brighton was a wake-up call, but their loss at home vs Liverpool has well and truly punctured the good feeling around the club.
To make matters worse, there will be no quick turnaround, with an international break separating their next fixture from this by two weeks.
Manchester United came into this season full of hope and optimism under the new ownership regime, boosted by a good transfer window.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Many are resetting their expectations after the first three games but not Rio Ferdinand, who has, in fact, doubled down on his bold take despite the defeat vs Liverpool.
Rio Ferdinand doubles down
Manchester United have got a set barometer for “success” every season now which is getting qualification for Champions League with a trophy an icing on the cake.
Last season, the icing on the cake was all they received with the FA Cup win, going backward after qualifying for the Champions League.
Financial loss from missing out on UCL is massive, so regardless of how many times Erik ten Hag reminds fans of the two trophies he’s won, UCL qualification is as big, arguably bigger objective this season.
Things are already looking troubling for United on that front but Rio Ferdinand is eager to stay the course and double down on his prediction.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand Presents, the ex-United man said that he still fully expects United to be in the top four of the league come the end of the season.
He said he’s backing Erik ten Hag still, and if Zirkzee had just converted his chances vs Liverpool, the result could look “very different”.
He said: “Yes! [sees United coming top four after Liverpool]. I believe in Erik ten Hag. The game on the weekend against Liverpool, we still had two really good chances.
“Should have been goals and the result looks very different then. Zirkzee’s game isn’t as a number 9, he’s a player who likes to link up.”
Where will Man Utd finish this season?
Rio Ferdinand followed it up by saying that United had chances but they look like a team of moments, where the chances come from a bit of quality instead of choreographed attacking play.
That is what holds United back which can be taken as an indirect criticism of Ten Hag’s system, which was exposed again vs Liverpool.
Individual mistakes ruined the game but there are clear flaws in the system, all the way from the start of last season, which still haven’t been addressed.
That makes is very difficult to be consistent over a 38-game league season, which is why United seem to get away with it in cups when the moments click but can’t keep it up over the course of a campaign in the league.
UCL qualification has to be the objective this year barring another freak injury nightmare and as it stands, United just don’t look like they have enough to be there.
Improvement on eighth from last season is a non-negotiable but if Ineos deems UCL qualification as a non-negotiable as well, then Ten Hag might not be in the dugout this time next year.
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