Man United have generally performed well against big teams this season - Photo: REUTERS
With 35 points, Man United were ranked 5th in the Premier League ahead of this round of matches, 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
The season is going in two directions.
This wasn't the first time the "Red Devils" had entered a clash once considered a classic in English football with such a clear inferiority against their arch-rivals.
Over the last three seasons, Manchester United have consistently faced Arsenal with a gap of 5-6 places between the two teams in the league table. This has also resulted in a terrible head-to-head record. In the last six encounters, Arsenal have won five and drawn one. In the past three years, the only time Manchester United have beaten their rivals was in the FA Cup.
However, it's also worth noting that in their most recent encounter, Man United played very well against the "Gunners". That was the match in the first round of this season. The "Red Devils" had 22 shots, held possession for over 61%, and created at least 3-4 clear-cut scoring opportunities. But in the end, Arsenal were the winning team with chances that weren't really clear-cut.
The two teams' seasons took opposite directions from that first match. While Arsenal soared, extending their consistent run from previous seasons, the "Red Devils" sank deeper and deeper down the league table thanks to Ruben Amorim – a completely unsuitable manager.
It wasn't until after sacking manager Amorim that Manchester United gradually improved, marked by a convincing victory over Manchester City last week. Ironically, this win was a "gift" to Arsenal, helping them increase their lead over Manchester City to 7 points in the title race.
Just an average team
But one thing must be acknowledged: whether under Amorim or interim manager Carrick, Manchester United have been very difficult opponents this season when facing strong teams.
Specifically, they beat Chelsea, Liverpool, and Newcastle in the first leg. These are the three English giants currently shining in this season's Champions League. And in the second leg, Man United went on to beat Man City.
Manchester United have played exceptionally well against strong opponents this season, that's an undeniable fact. If the "Red Devils" could maintain similar form against average opponents, they might now be competing for the championship with Arsenal.
But that's precisely the problem for the Old Trafford side, and it's not a new one. From the Solskjaer era to Ten Hag, then Amorim, and now possibly Carrick, Man United have a habit of playing well against strong opponents, but they struggle when facing average or weak teams.
The reason is simple: because Man United is... an average team. What they've shown this season is quite similar to Crystal Palace and Bournemouth currently, or Wolverhampton and Brentford in the past.
Whenever they are put in a counter-attacking position, Bruno Fernandes' long passes become incredibly dangerous, and Diallo and Dorgu's wing switches and bursts of speed also cause headaches for opponents, ensuring the defense will not make mistakes.
But for much of the season, Bruno Fernandes only showed average qualities expected of an attacking midfielder. Those around him fared even worse.
Manchester United, despite having the highest investment in English football for the past 10 years, has no shortage of stars but lacks the ability to play like a big team. They create pure surprises, like Crystal Palace do against big teams.
Tonight's match is therefore also full of surprises. Manchester United could certainly liven up the title race again, but they themselves are still a very, very long way from that title race.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nghich-ly-cua-man-united-2026012511243714.htm
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