Manchester United may yet end the 2019/20 season without a trophy, but it is still a campaign that provides hope for a better future.
Success in the Premier League has proved hard to come by over the past few years and a third-place finish is nothing to celebrate for a club that is judged purely on silverware.
However, returning to the Champions League was the number one target this term and the Red Devils eventually managed to achieve the feat.
Read on as look at the latest state-of-play at Old Trafford and assess some of the key issues the club must address if they are to kick-on next season.
Solskjaer Gets His Hands Back on the Wheel
There was plenty of talk after the 2-0 home defeat by January back in January that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was not the right man to take the club forward.
United were 14 points behind Leicester City at that point, but a run of nine wins and five draws in the league since then was enough to fire United above the Foxes into third spot.
The team scored 30 goals and conceded just seven during that run – an admirable record considering how poorly they had played against the Clarets.
Solskjaer deserves plenty of praise for the turnaround in United’s fortunes, although he will know better than most that winning silverware is the name of the game at Old Trafford.
Europa League in United’s Sights
United have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League and are favourites with every leading bookmaker to go on and lift the trophy.
Solskjaer’s side lead LASK 5-0 heading into their second meeting in the round of 16 and it would be a seismic shock if they failed to complete the job.
İstanbul Basaksehir or FC Copenhagen await in the last eight and United would rightly fancy their chances of defeating either team.
Things will be tougher thereafter, but United are certainly capable of crowning this season by claiming the Europa League trophy in Portugal.
Key Summer Ahead for Solskjaer
United’s transfer policy has been much-improved over the last 12 months and it is imperative that they continue in the same vein this summer.
With United qualifying for the Champions League, other Man Utd blogs now agree that a move for Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho will now be agreed.
A top-class partner for Harry Maguire is also needed, with Inter Milan star Milan Skriniar amongst a plethora of players linked with the club.
An extra sprinkling of quality is needed if United are to close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City, meaning the club can ill-afford to make a mistake in the transfer window.
Addressing the Depth Issue
While United’s starting XI is match for any team in the country, that is not the case where the rest of the squad is concerned.
Solskjaer will be keen to address that issue this summer, with the likes of Phil Jones and Jesse Lingard amongst the players who could be moved on.
Jack Grealish and Nathan Ake have been tipped to join United this summer, and both are potentially useful additions to the squad.
If Solksjaer can make the necessary adjustments, United should be capable of mounting a serious title challenge next season.
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