Let us begin with a positive, if that word can still be used for Manchester United in any context.
Luke Shaw, the left-back who had been plagued with injury for a long time, made a return to action for the Red Devils in a Premier League match at the Saint James’ Park as a substitute on Sunday, April 13.
However, the visitors’ 1-4 thumping at the hands of Newcastle United only prolonged the list of negatives for them.
With that defeat, Manchester United remain 14th in the league table with 38 points from 32 matches.
It should be really difficult for them to get into the top half by the end of the season, while Newcastle’s hopes of ensuring Champions League football next season are very much alive.
Newcastle Destroyed Manchester United With Their Intensity Upfront
The Magpies pressed high throughout the match to put pressure on Manchester United’s defence.
They forced the United defenders and goalkeeper to commit errors to lose possession and concede goals thereafter.
On the other hand, Ruben Amorim’s men only relied on counter-attacks, which continued to make them painfully one-dimensional.
When the lone goal-scorer for United, Alejandro Garnacho, was taken off in the second half, even the counter-attacking threat was gone.
The United wing-backs, Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot, tried going into overlaps in the second half, with Dorgu managing to play a few crosses into the Newcastle box.
However, Manchester United’s attempts were in stark contrast to those of the home side, whose midfielders and forwards sliced open the opposition defence repeatedly with their wonderful passing.
Each of Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes had splendid games for the Magpies.
They played one-touch passes at times to catch the Manchester United defenders off guard and also won the ball back repeatedly with intense pressing.
Altay Bayındır, who started in United’s goal in place of the much-maligned Andre Onana, committed a gross mistake with his faulty distribution that led to Newcastle’s fourth goal.
Noussair Mazraoui committed another one prior to that, which helped the home side score their third.
Overall, it was a disappointing performance, to say the least, from a team which tried the likes of Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo in the second half without any apparent improvement.
Unless and until Manchester United start pressing and playing passes like Newcastle United did, it will be very difficult for them to improve their standing.
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Manchester United Have Their Hopes Pinned on the Europa League
United will play Lyon in the second leg of their Europa League quarterfinal on Thursday, April 17.
With their Premier League campaign having gone astray, Amorim’s men will want to make things up somewhat by winning the Europa League.
They will also play against AFC Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their two remaining Premier League matches this month.
However, as the match against Newcastle pointed out, Manchester United have a long way to go before being counted among the top teams in England at the moment.
The rebuilding and reshaping should start as early as next season.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto
Recording Date: 13.04.2025