Manchester United will not be playing Champions League football next season. The team who look likely to clinch the fourth spot will be Aston Villa.
Aston Villa moved a step closer to securing fourth with a comeback draw against Liverpool, who failed to win Jurgen Klopp’s last ever Premier League away game.
Liverpool had led the game 3-1, before Unai Emery brought on substitute Jhon Duran, who scored twice, and launched a thousand puns about his name with the scoresheet reading Duran, Duran.
If Manchester United investors Ineos were watching, there was an important lesson for the club’s management to pay attention to.
Jhon Duran provides spark from the bench
Manchester United have struggled to score goals this season, and that has been a real problem for the team.
The Red Devils have netted just 52 Premier League goals. Manchester City have netted 91. Aston Villa have scored 76.
One of the differences, as demonstrated in Villa’s draw with Liverpool, is that they have a striker they can call on from the bench.
With Ollie Watkins enduring a rare off-night in front of goal, Villa called on young striker Jhon Duran.
The Colombian striker stepped up, scoring twice, to ensure Villa claimed a point and remained on the front-foot in their Champions League chase.
Duran, for his part, is a very raw young striker, playing the kind of back-up role many believe Rasmus Hojlund might be best suited to at this early stage of his career.
But he cost Villa just £18 million to sign from Chicago Fire in January 2023. The club knew they were signing a prospect, and he has been managed accordingly, with expectations in tow.
What Villa do have, is an option. All clubs need a variety of strikers. Manchester United famously hadfour top strikers in 1999.
Manchester United operating with one striker
In 2024, Manchester United have been operating with just one striker. Anthony Martial has not played a game since early December, and contributed little before then.
When Rasmus Hojlund missed a fortnight with injury in late February and early March, United had to operate with no strikers.
Having options up front is essential. When Rasmus Hojlund was substituted at the weekend, untested 18-year-old Ethan Wheatley was brought on, highlighting how scarce the options are.
The striker position is absolutely essential for Manchester United to address this summer. Anthony Martial will be released when his contract expires at the end of June.
United arguably need two new strikers not just one. But it is an essential position, one which United have managed extremely poorly over the past few years.
Rasmus Hojlund was set up to fail this year. Give him competition, give him a helping hand, and reduce the pressure.
If there was a young international level striker on the bench at the weekend, it could have proved the difference between losing, and gaining at least a point.
It is an issue Ineos need to act decisively to fix. Manchester United need to sign more goals. Plain and simply, Manchester United need more strikers to score them.
