As we are approaching the one-year anniversary of David Moyes’ dismissal from the club, in comparison to this time last season, there is a much brighter outlook for the club, under the stewardship of Louis van Gaal. The remaining seven games of the season could potentially define our current manager’s reign in charge, as the consequence of not earning a place in next season’s Champions League ranges from how we conduct our transfer business in the summer, to the actual business model the Glazer family and Ed Woodward are maintaining and developing. As a matter of fact, earning a place in next season’s Champions League is a necessity.
We are well on course for a top four finish in the Premier League and unless there is a capitulation of the highest magnitude, van Gaal will achieve what was the main target set to him at the beginning of the season, by executive vice-chairman, Woodward. Failure to finish in the top four would be something close to a disaster, especially when you consider the platform van Gaal has built in the previous month or so with the performances and most importantly, victories, the team has achieved. However, van Gaal is well aware, that all is not set in stone, with regards to finishing in the top four; immediately after yesterday’s victory over Aston Villa, he expressed:
“We are still not certain about Champions League qualification – it is still a rat race.”
We are still to play Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as tricky trips away to Everton and Crystal Palace. At this stage of the season, there are no easy games as teams at both ends of the table, are fighting for every point they can achieve. A strong finish could potentially see Manchester United finish not only in the top four, but second in the league, something that would have seemed almost impossible at certain points this season.
In relation to how our final position will affect our business in the upcoming summer transfer window, if we were to finish outside the top four, I believe that we would still have the capabilities of signing world class players, but it makes it all the more difficult, and of course, costlier. Van Gaal talks about his three year plan, but in order to achieve the targets set before him, this summer window is essential. He needs his players, as soon as possible, in order to create a team, not a side with individuals.
I think it is important to consider though, that the previous summer window displaced the myth that playing in the top four is the absolute, in attracting the very best players. Take Liverpool for example; whilst they earned a place in the Champions League this season, they were still unable to attract the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Edinson Cavani and our very own, albeit for the remainder of the season, Radamel Falcao.
Like in any other business, money talks in football and there are five or six clubs in the world who can compete financially with Manchester United; if any of those clubs were to complete with us in signing a respective player and they were able to offer Champions League football when we couldn’t, then it would put them at an immediate advantage. Hence, it is vital that Manchester United are able to efficiently sign their targets, in order to compete for honours next season and for van Gaal to really cement his philosophy on the side.
Finishing in the top four would also show the world of football, that last season was a mere blip. We have seen giants on the continent such as AC Milan, who are decorated in honours, suddenly becoming a team who no longer compete for trophies domestically and on the continent. It can be easy for a club to fall into a period of stagnation, believing that their reputation alone would be enough to set themselves on the right path. Thankfully, in Woodward and van Gaal, we have leaders who do not accept mediocracy and have the knowledge, experience and mentality to set Manchester United back to the top.
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