Manchester United are in their annual crisis mode.
There are many issues with the Red Devils, but’s also about who isn’t in the team that is hampering Michael Carrick’s efforts.
Amad Diallo suffered an ankle injury on the eve of the new season, and it’s safe to say his absence has been keenly felt. The Ivorian’s return cannot come soon enough.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Injury led to multiple issues
The horror show at Hull City set the tone for Man Utd’s joint-worst start to a Premier League season. An out-of-sync front line has really struggled to perform for the Red Devils.
With Benjamin Sesko not featuring in pre-season due to an ongoing shin issue, Bryan Mbeumo was the obvious option to lead the line. He had done so for much of Carrick’s tenure, as well as throughout the summer. But Diallo’s injury has seen the Cameroonian shifted back to the right. And that’s where it all began to go wrong.
It’s not that Mbeumo can’t operate off the flank. It is his natural position after all. It’s who has replaced him as a so-called false nine. Matheus Cunha.
Prior to his move to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023 and a switch to a free role off the left, the Brazilian struggled across several clubs as a striker. It’s long been proven he cannot play there.
Carrick making life even harder for himself
In defence of Carrick’s choice, his options are limited, especially with Sesko out for the draw at Fulham. Joshua Zirkzee was never going to be trusted to lead the line. And with good reason. The much-maligned forward has scored just five league goals for Man Utd in over two years. He was also up for sale all summer and nearly moved to Everton on deadline day.
It’s rather bizarre he’s getting any minutes at all. Why was he brought on over Shea Lacey in the home loss to Manchester City and again on Sunday? The youngster scored his first goal for the club in the shambolic cup loss to Brighton and Hove Albion and always looks a threat.
If Lacey was given a chance, Mbeumo could play up front and Cunha off the left. It was obvious right away how much more comfortable the 27-year-old was there. His deflected late equaliser at Craven Cottage was a result of cutting in from the left and having a pop.
Cunha moved to the flank after Marcus Rashford was substituted for Zirkzee. Rashford is an easy scapegoat and plenty will blame Man Utd’s downturn on his return. It’s largely lazy or agenda-driven but it is curious as to why Carrick hasn’t tried the England man through the middle.
Diallo is very likely to be back after the three-week international break, which Man Utd will hope can act as a reset for the team. Carlos Baleba was on the bench at Fulham and will debut in October. The forgotten man, Matthijs de Ligt, surely can’t be too far away either. And Sesko will hopefully be over his shin issue.
Diallo’s return cannot come sooner
But it is Diallo who is vital. It’s not just that he is electric on his day. His attacking output may have dipped last season but he brings balance to the Man Utd side and helps link defence to attack. Ruben Amorim’s torturous reign had few positives but the Ivorian’s repositioning as a wing-back has helped his overall game.
Change is needed in both how Man Utd play and how they line up meaning Diallo is surely set for action against Tottenham Hotspur on 10th October. He and Baleba will provide some much-needed energy and maybe even the semblance of a coherent press.
His return will see Mbeumo or Sesko go up top and Cunha return to playing off the left. It will only help Bruno Fernandes too, whose iffy form has been in part due to the Brazilian dropping into his spaces. It has left Man Utd with too many men in the middle and not enough up top or in behind.
Carrick mentioned fine margins costing his side so far this season. It is obviously deeper than that but maybe Diallo’s return can help rejig the side and turn things in their favour once again. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. It’s hardly been more apparent for Man Utd fans.
