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Premier League 2017-18 Team Preview: Manchester United

The Red Devils have spent big once again, but will it translate to success on the pitch this season?

Premier League 2017-18 Team Preview: Manchester United

Manchester United got a reality check on Tuesday as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in the 2017 UEFA Super Cup, as after coasting through pre-season, a surge of belief had been evident among the United faithful. 

Too much shouldn't be read into the loss, especially against a side that have dominated European football for the past couple of years. However, there is no denying that success cannot be taken for granted in Jose Mourinho’s second season.  

The Red Devils huffed and puffed their way to the fifth in the league last year, but the fact that they won the League Cup and the Europa League in Mourinho’s debut season made it a moderate success by the club’s lofty standards. 

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However, an unattractive playing style and subsequent paucity of goals were a major source of fans’ ire throughout the campaign and something the Special One will have to address in the coming weeks. 

Icons Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have departed, but the Red Devils look a better unit without them and hopes are high for the English giants ahead of their return to Champions League football. 

Summer signing Romelu Lukaku has been in fine fettle, as have the entire unit who look comfortable in Mourinho’s system. But, with the club spending big, nothing less than a league title will be the demand this time round.

A top-four finish is simply not enough and will be impressed upon the players by their manager, but can the Red Devils deliver on their promise?

Transfer Ins 
Victor Lindelof (£31.5 million from Benfica)
Nemanja Matic (£40 million from Chelsea)
Romelu Lukaku (£75 million from Everton)

Transfer Outs
Wayne Rooney (free to Everton)
Adnan Januzaj (£7.65 million to Real Sociedad)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (released)

X-Factor: Henrikh Mkhitaryan

It may seem strange, considering it isn't Mkhitaryan’s debut season, but the Armenian is going to be key to United’s fortunes in the 2017-18 season.

The Aremenian's campaign last time round was hampered by niggling injuries and by the time he started to get into his groove, too many matches had passed and he was labelled, somewhat harshly, a flop. 

United have been performing well as a whole but arguably Mkhitaryan, Marcus Rashford and Lukaku have been the best of the lot in attack and with the 28-year-old Armenian gelling well with his team, he’s set to take the Premier League by storm. 

Expect a double figures tally of goals and assists both by season-end. 

Achilles Heel: Full-Backs

Many consider Antonio Valencia to be the best right-back in the Premier League, but is the hardworking Ecuadorian really in that top echelon by virtue of his performances or the fact that others in his position just aren't consistent enough?

A combination of both honestly and at 32, he isn't going to get any better, rather the opposite. 

Let’s not forget, he’s not a natural full-back and while he has been a fantastic servant, United should ideally sign another player to give him completion on the wing.

Which brings us to the left flank, seemingly well-stocked considering Luke Shaw, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian can all play there. But look closer and the fact that United’s true first-choice, Shaw, has been unable to nail down a starting spot is damning indeed.

Once touted as the successor to Ashley Cole for England, the 22-year-old has been chided in public on a number of occasions by first Louis van Gaal and then Mourinho, prompting many to doubt whether the Englishman will ever be able to reach his full potential. The club are running out of patience with the young defender

Blind has done an admirable job, excelling in a number of positions due to his superb versatility, but as is the case with Valencia, will be thoroughly exposed by elite teams. His positional skills are excellent but he is among the slowest defenders around and should United be unable to keep Shaw healthy, a swoop in the January window for reinforcements seems likely. 

Darmian started against Real Madrid and while he gave a good account of himself, the Italian is another who has struggled to churn out consistent performances and at the moment, he looks like a solid deputy, nothing else.

Star Man: Paul Pogba

Unburdened by the tag of being the world’s most expensive player after Neymar’s €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain and with Nemanja Matic’s arrival ‘freeing’ him, the flashy Frenchman will have no excuses this time. 

The lanky midfielder isn't an out-and-out goalscorer of course, but with Herrera and Matic carrying out the dirty work behind him, he will be able to take on defences and of course, have a better goals-to-haircuts ratio.

Pogba was unlucky to hit the post multiple times last season but alongside firm friend Romelu Lukaku and superlative talents like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Marital, expect the ‘dab’ to be a regular occurrence at Old Trafford. 

Likely Starting XI

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper: David de Gea
Defence: Daley Blind, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Antonio Valencia
Centre Midfield: Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic
Attacking Midfield: Paul Pogba
Attack: Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku and Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Formation: 3-5-2

Goalkeeper: David de Gea

Central Defenders: Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling

Wing-Backs: Daley Blind, Antonio Valencia

Centre Midfield: Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba

Attack: Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Romelu Lukaku

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