Red Devils are blessed with a plethora of options to fill the wide defence area.
April 21, 2019 – a bright sunny day on the Merseyside welcomed the beleaguered Reds – who were humbled by a dominant Barcelona side a few days ago. Still fighting for a Champions League spot in the league, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer demanded a response from his players.
What followed was an absolute calamity as Manchester United was decimated at the hands of a predatory Everton XI, cajoled by a raucous crop of Goodison Park supporters.
"I will be successful here. There are players here that won't be part of that."
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 22, 2019
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns Manchester United players they could face axe after Everton loss: https://t.co/QSZ2QVfir0 pic.twitter.com/zyQAhlfI1p
“I will be successful here. There are players here that won’t be part of that.”- snarled Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the game finished. Believe it or not, as things suggest, the Norwegian has stuck to his word. Though the former part yet to be proved, glory won’t be far if the United troops carry on doing what they have started at the start of this campaign.
Since the conclusion of the 2018/19 campaign, Solskjaer has been ruthless, cutting loose of the players who weren’t committed to strive for success at Old Trafford. Romelu Lukaku, Chris Smalling, Alexis Sanchez, Ashley Young, and Marcos Rojo, have been dismantled from the United squad.
Despite such a heavy departure list, this meant a depleted squad to work with. The United management took the brave decision to nurture and mentor those players who would sacrifice themselves for the greater good of the team.
To support his “cultural reset”, Solskjaer, during last summer, recruited domestic talents who understood the tradition and history of the club. It’s fair to say, Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Harry Maguire have helped in growing a kindred spirit in the squad with no superstar ego and tantrums.
However, the objective is not yet achieved for Solskjaer, as he welcomes another crucial summer period which will dictate the club’s near future. There will be a fair share of changes done to the current United squad, with a few incomings and departures.
As things stand, there are hints of how Man United could look like when 2020/21 campaign kicks off. One such player who faces an uncertain future at the club is Diogo Dalot, who played a major part in the Red Devils’ greatest European night in recent seasons against Paris Saint-Germain.