Where did it all go wrong for Manchester United this season? Well, you have to go back to the very start.
Two and a half games into pre-season, Manchester United were off to a strong start to 2023/24 preparations. Two wins, two signings made, and on the way to a third win over Arsenal.
Then the injuries and the defeats began to pile up. Amad was injured against the Gunners, with Kobbie Mainoo injured minutes into the next game against Real Madrid.
United lost to Real, then to Borussia Dortmund, while the youngsters lost to Wrexham, as part of a gruelling pre-season, which also included matches in Scotland, Norway, Ireland, and back at Old Trafford.
“There’s been a lot of games and too much traveling, to be honest,” Christian Eriksen told MUTV, per The Mirror.
One month into the season and the injuries began to pile up. Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lisandro Martinez, while Tyrell Malacia did not even make the tour and has been out all year.
United’s supporters have debated all season whether the busy pre-season schedule played a big part in the club’s poor start to the season, and the high accumulation of injuries.
And it seems that another club hampered by injuries in 2023/24 have drawn the same conclusion.
Newcastle injuries blamed on USA tour, sounds familiar
Newcastle have drawn level on points with Manchester United amidthe Red Devils’ recent slide in form. Similarly to our problems, they have seen their campaign wrecked by injuries to key players, stretching their squad at key positions.
The Athletic report that Newcastle regard their own pre-season tour of the USA as the ‘catalyst’ for their injury issues, where they played three games in six days.
Manchester United played three games in nine days in the US, excluding the Wrexham game, before another at Old Trafford four days later.
The report quotes a source describing of Newcastle’s situation: “The travelling was “ridiculous,” the games were too hard and compacted and players were placed under physical pressure too early — “a logistical nightmare.”
Sounds familiar. Beat for beat, this describes Manchester United problems perfectly too, and began the cycle we have found ourselves in all season, playing catch-up with an injury-hit squad facing a packed schedule with high expectations.
It’s hard enough to negotiate the season at full strength, let alone with constant injuries ravaging the squad and the manager’s plans.
Erik ten Hag has not been faultless either. His tactics are unconvincing, and might even be a factor behind the injuries too, with United constantly chasing the ball because they are unable to keep it. But the pre-season aspect certainly holds some weight.
Manchester United return to USA for tour 2024
It is with frustration we see Manchester United have announced another pre-season tour of the USA for summer 2024. The demand for money-spinning friendly matches continues, and might be needed for the club’s coffers, with no Champions League football expected next season.
However, it cannot be a positive that Manchester United are on course to repeat the same mistake.
Three matches have been announced in three different cities in an eight-day period. Two on the USA’s west coast, one on the East. There is no escaping the travel.
READ MORE: Man Utd Pre-Season Tour 2024: Fixtures, Dates, How to Watch
This will not help United, especially in a summer following major tournaments at the Copa America and European Championships. We only hope that United use the games to stagger the players’ returns, use youngsters, and spread the squad. It is surely the only way.
The club do acknowledge the mistakes and aim to make some logistical changes to ease pressure on the players. Even though there are some additional matches in Scotland and Norway again too.
Erik ten Hag toldclub media: “We will do things slightly different. We will stay longer in the base camp and not so much travelling any more.”
He added: “There will be a mix, with experienced players together with some young players.”
WhetherErik ten Hag and his current coaching staff are still at Manchester United to take the pre-season is another matter entirely. That could depend on how his side end the 2023/24 campaign.
If the manager is unsuccessful in retaining his job, when he reflects on where it all went wrong, his conclusion may lead him back to summer 2023.