'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United are among one of the massively improved sides this season. The Red Devils currently sit second in the English league and enjoy their best spell in the post Fergie era. The United boss, Jose Mourinho has finally bought the winning mentality to the club and the bar has been raised at the Theater of Dreams.
Their recent home wins against Chelsea and Liverpool have all but cemented their Champions League spot for the next season.
However, United have fallen behind their target of challenging for the English title in 2017/18 season. Their local rivals already have a hand on the Premier League trophy as they lead Red Devils by 13 points.
The 2018/19 season would arrive with a greater promise for the club as they look to mount a serious title challenge for the Premier League if Mourinho manages to take care of a few issues in the team.
Trending
That said, here is a list of problems, Manchester United need to fix in order to make this team genuine title contenders in 2018/19.
#5 The much-needed clear-out
Manchester United are in desperate need of getting rid of a number of underperforming players. The squad depth in Jose's side appears to be immense on paper. But these players have let their team down when called upon for the job.
Players like Daley Blind, Chris Smalling, Matteo Darmian, and Marouane Fellaini appear to be undeserving for a place in this United squad.
The full-backs Blind and Darmian were solely responsible for the team's 1-0 loss to Basel in the Champions League. Chris Smalling when starting a game for United, leaves the fans praying for securing the three points. Such is the lack of assurance in them. It is because of these players that the first 11 could not be rested often even in easier matches.
The Red Devils need to part way with these players and bring some new recruits who are desperate to make a mark and learn. Those players could well be the future of United and deliver when called upon.
Alternatively, Mourinho can buy a few experienced players so as to give players such as Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw or Victor Lindelof a source of learning. In a hectic season of all-round football, it would be essential to rest the big names in the first team.
#4 The Paul Pogba problem
When Manchester United announced Nemanja Matic's arrival from Chelsea, Paul Pogba was expected to be a free man in Jose Mourinho's team who would be destroying the opposing defences with his trickery. However, that has been proved only to be a conjecture this season.
Recently, reports suggested that Mourinho could be in a "rift" with his record signing Paul Pogba after the team's shambolic display at Wembley.
The "rift" saw Pogba miss some substantial game-time. The pundits and fans lashed out at the manager for playing the Frenchman in a deeper role. Consequently, Jose allowed Pogba to play a progressed role in his favoured 4-3-3 formation.
The midfielder started on the left of a three-man midfield but failed to impress. His performances against Sevilla and Crystal Palace were awful, to say the least.
The pre-season would be crucial for setting up the team's broken midfield ahead of an important season for the club.
#3 The ageing full-backs
Manchester United probably have one of the best full-back duos in the country in form of experienced Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young. The two have been producing some sensational performances this season in defence.
However, The demands of the Premier League and fixture congestion appear to be hindering their performances lately. Mourinho has managed both the players brilliantly by keeping a strong check on their game time.
Valencia has been a constant threat going forward this season while looking strong defensively. The only problem with him is the age factor which is playing its part on the Ecuadorian. On the other flank, Young has also impressed but remained inconsistent as of late.
Jose cannot rely solely on these two players ahead of a crucial season. This summer, United need to invest in some youngsters. With just a few playing years left under their belt, if United sign a couple of new full-backs in summer, Valencia and Young could grant them the much needed mentoring at the club.
#2 The centre-back pairing
Manchester United had quite an affirming defence at the start of the new season but have been struggling in their own final third lately. Ever since Eric Bailly got injured in December, Jose Mourinho has shuffled his defence regularly.
He has played various permutations of Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones in the defence and preferred the duo of Smalling and Jones more often. In those three players, United have defenders who are the perfect personification of the chasm between good and great centre-backs.
United have been looking shaky at the back of late this season. While facing the opposition who fancy their chances on the ball, the back-line of United seem vulnerable. Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo's absence has turned this defence leaky.
Eric Bailly, is the focal point of United's defence at the moment. Jose needs a defender like Toby Alderweireld who can ease the pressure off Ivorian and strengthen the back-line.
#1 The Alexis Sanchez problem
Alexis Sanchez's arrival at the club was pegged to be a turning point in Manchester United's season. However, that appears not to be going as planned for Jose Mourinho.
The former Arsenal forward prefers to play on the left-wing where the team has candidates like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Jose tried to bring in a player on the right during the summer, but that didn't work out.
Sanchez was expected to solve the problem for the manager but the player is yet to feature on that flank. Jose has started Lingard, Mata, and even Martial at the right but not Alexis. Clearly, the Portuguese does not want to play a man being reportedly paid £505,000 a week, 'out of position'.
The player has somewhat unbalanced the team's attack with his style of play. He majorly likes to cut inside from the left to create chances or take a shot, which is the area Pogba prefers to operate in.
This pre-season, Jose would be spending a lot of time with the Chilean who would not be at the World Cup in Russia. That would certainly be the chance for him to figure out the ideal position for the player.
Mourinho needs to figure out a position in which he can not only get out the best out of Sanchez but also ensures that Pogba and Martial get their desired roles in the team alongside the former Arsenal man.
