Ole Get Sacked. What's Wrong With Manchester United?

Finally, United board had decided to remove Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from United as a Manager. After continuous losing with humiliatingly lose to Liverpool, United now searching a new gaffer. What really happen? Did Solskjaer lost his magic? Was Ronaldo effect the team? Or coaching staff that unreliable?

How United Played Before.

Last season become the nearest campaign for United to win a league after so many years. United play with 4-2-3-1 high press and front press with Bruno conduct the pressing at front. It become an identity for United under Ole started from the first game Bruno plays. With youngers frontline like Rashford, Martial, Greenwood and James, Bruno came in as a conductor to organize not just attacking, but pressing. He will screaming at everyone to press when losing ball. From there, it become a habit for United to play like that.

However, one question in my mind. It is high pressing method are planning by United coach, or by chance since Bruno move it by her own? That become a reason why van de Beek didn't got chance to play. I watched one match that van de Beek started  and Bruno rested at the bench. The problem was pressing. Without Bruno, pressing were ineffective with players didn't move synchronically. End up, van de Beek being replaced by Bruno at half time. I think that was a last match that van de Beek started until this year match against Young Boys.

Why High Press United Important.

United have a young attackers with speed and stamina. The trio of Rashford, Martial and Greenwood will run to the opponent defender together with Bruno. This create a discomfort to the opponent defender especially to the team that develop the game from the back. These defenders need to release ball early and didn't have time to search a space, team members and to pass properly.

This technique help United back four and midfield pivot to intercept and develop a counter attack. The problem to this method when United played against defensive teams that play behind the ball or park the bus. United struggle with possession and slow when playing short pass or changing side. 

Against defensive teams, United need Pogba as a creative mind in the team. United also will push their centreback either Harry Maguire or Victor Lindelof to bring ball to the front and add a number in the opponent half.

So, if United insist to play high front press, every players including fringe players need to follow that because pressing will become disaster when some players not cooperate. I believe that the reason Ole maintain using Fred and McTominay.

But, why it is failed this year?

I think of several reason to this.

1. To many football.

Euro, Copa America, World Cup Qualifying, EPL, Champions League. Too many football start from the post pandemic. With majority of the first eleven players were playing for their country except Wan Bissaka and Greenwood (Martial but since he just recovered from injury), those player keep playing nearly every matches. It not just impact their physical, but also their mental. 

United still have qualities player that didn't involved in the International duties like Wan Bissaka, Greenwood, Tellas, Matic, Van de Beek, Mata, Lingard and Martial, also several players that being in the National Squad but didn't play (or rarely play) like De Gea and Sancho. Still Ole keep using a same player. That also create unsatisfaction in the dressing room while the main players nearly burnout, lack of energy and losing the passion because playing for United need high level energy for every game.

2. Ronaldo Impact

Cristiano Ronaldo with his age still a top legend player. United fan still have a great memory about Ronaldo. But, Ronaldo is not what we seen 10 years ago. No fancy footwork, no more high speed turn, no trickster. However, he still have sharpness and really good in front the goal.

Ronaldo came to the team really negatively impact Bruno Fernandes. Some debatable fact appear in the internet about Bruno performance in National Team. When Ronaldo came to United, it appear Bruno not just losing an authority in the field but also losing her confidence. It showed when he miss a penalty kick at stoppage times against Aston Villa. His faced didn't showed calmness that he got before this with Ronaldo keep asking to give this duty for him.

While Ronaldo's scoring record this season is impressive, it didn't help United to win a game. One point that surface from football fan was pressing. Everyone know, Ronaldo not pressing enough. It effect United defender because opponent have time to pin a pass forward. Bruno also lose his authority to conduct attacking and pressing with he keep his mouth shut. Who dare to scream at Ronaldo and asking him to press?

It looks that opponent teams find out this weaknesses and start to exploit it.

3. Ole + Tactical = 0

Fan and pundit keep remind about lack of tactical from Ole. Even, nonsense substitution, and scare to make a change. Too many occasion, people keep questioning a decision making made from the manager. 

Next, who will in charge United? United have a group of great players and need a great manager that able to use it. We hope and we hope.