How equipped is this United squad to challenge on multiple fronts?

Solskjaer claimed the current group he’s assembled is ‘special’, but turning that into silverware is a different challenge.
Manchester United players. Credit: Getty.Manchester United players. Credit: Getty.
Manchester United players. Credit: Getty.

Manchester United begin their Champions League campaign on Tuesday night, one of four competitions the Red Devils can have serious ambitions of winning in 2021/22.

It’s something Ole Gunnar Solskjaer even hinted at himself on Monday in the pre-match press conference when asked about his hopes of winning the Champions League this season.

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But this is, after all, a United team who haven’t picked up silverware since 2017 and have claimed just three major trophy successes since Sir Alex Fergson left eight years ago.

So how misplaced is any hope of this Red Devils squad competing on several fronts this season?

United haven’t won a trophy since 2017. Credit: Getty.United haven’t won a trophy since 2017. Credit: Getty.
United haven’t won a trophy since 2017. Credit: Getty.

Solskjaer’s view

Speaking on Monday, he said: “This team now has grown and matured over the last few seasons. I have to say, that was always the plan three years ago, back in the day when I came in, that we could have a squad with the experience and quality to challenge.

“With players like David [De Gea], Harry [Maguire] has had a couple of years here now. We’re getting a spine in the team with experience and quality. Of course, with Raphael [Varane] and Cristiano [Ronaldo], they add… not the last bit of course, because you can never say it’s your last bit, but it added something extra you have to buy, unless you win it four times yourself.

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“We’ve definitely learned. The group is special, I have to say. As a unit, they look after each other. The atmosphere is really good and that will stand us in good stead, definitely."

How good is this squad?

To challenge for silverware, a team must possess both quality and depth, and United undeniably have both.

Summer signings Ronaldo, Varane and Jadon Sancho add to the skillsets of Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Maguire, Luke Shaw, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani to give this United squad a real profusion of star quality at both ends of the pitch.

The former Real Madrid team-mates add real quality to the United squad. Credit: Getty.The former Real Madrid team-mates add real quality to the United squad. Credit: Getty.
The former Real Madrid team-mates add real quality to the United squad. Credit: Getty.

When it comes to numbers Solskjaer also isn’t lacking, and his roster can be broken down as such:

Goalkeepers: 4 (De Gea, Henderson, Heaton, Grant)

Right-backs: 2 (Wan-Bissaka, Dalot)

Centre-backs: 5 (Maguire, Varane, Lindelof, Bailly, Jones)

Left-backs: 2 (Shaw, Telles)

Centre-midfielders: 3 (McTominay, Fred, Matic)

Attacking midfielders: 3 (Fernades, Pogba, Van de Beek)

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Wingers: 6 (Sancho, Greenwood, Rashford, Lingard, Mata, Amad)

Strikers: 3 (Ronaldo, Cavani, Martial)

The above is somewhat of a simplification given several players can occupy a number of positions, but the above listing contains 28 players, that’s before youngsters such as Teden Mengi, Anthony Elanga or Shola Shoretire are considered.

Is United’s squad the best in the Premier League? Credit: Getty.Is United’s squad the best in the Premier League? Credit: Getty.
Is United’s squad the best in the Premier League? Credit: Getty.

How does it compare to other squads?

Only three teams in the Premier League can boast of similar qualities: Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. In this writer’s view, the strongest XIs of all the aforementioned clubs slightly shades United’s, but it’s a tight contest and one many will view differently.

But in terms of depth, using a similar litmus test, we came up with the following numbers for the respective clubs:

Man City (21)

Chelsea (25)

Liverpool (27)

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It’s worth noting however, that Liverpool’s squad contains several players who are well off the standard required to compete at the highest level: Loris Karius, Nathaniel Phillips, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Divock Origi to name but a few.

So when it comes to quality squad sizes, only Chelsea can really compete with United’s impressive roster.

Can United challenge for multiple trophies?

There’s no denying this current group at United has the capability to challenge for silverware on several fronts. It’s also something Solskjaer has actually done in each of his two full seasons at Old Trafford to date.

In 2019/20, the Red Devils made it to the semi-finals of three trophies and last season they reached the same stage in the League Cup, the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the Europa League.

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So Solskjaer has already demonstrated an ability to go far in competitions while gaining a top-four place, however, will merely settling for a spot in the Champions League be enough this season for a very expectant fanbase? It seems unlikely.

That’s the other side Solskjaer must better this time around, actually maintaining a genuine title challenge, while also casting aside those toothless performances in the latter stages of cup competitions which have so often cost United in the last two seasons.

Squad sizes and quality will determine exactly where the major trophies end up come May, as will tactical set-ups, injuries, team chemistry and moral etc. Alas for United, constructing a formidable team is just half the battle.