{"id":127608,"date":"2023-12-05T11:37:25","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T11:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/12\/05\/3-things-man-utd-need-to-fix-before-visit-of-chelsea\/"},"modified":"2023-12-05T11:37:25","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T11:37:25","slug":"3-things-man-utd-need-to-fix-before-visit-of-chelsea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2023\/12\/05\/3-things-man-utd-need-to-fix-before-visit-of-chelsea\/","title":{"rendered":"3 things Man Utd need to fix before visit of Chelsea \u2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

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On the face of it, a 1-0 loss at Newcastle shouldn\u2019t be seen as the end of the world for Manchester United.<\/strong><\/p>\n

St James\u2019 Park is a notoriously tough place to go. The Magpies have made it a real fortress and the 8pm kick-off on a Saturday night served to gee up an already boisterous home crowd. If you really wanted to play the excuses game, the Red Devils had to take a three-hour coach up to Tyneside at the last minute as opposed to a cushy flight.<\/p>\n

The manner of Saturday\u2019s defeat was alarming, though. United were outfought on a basic level, the old and sometimes outdated adage that the other team \u2018wanted it more\u2019 was most appropriate.<\/p>\n

It undid a lot of the good work Erik ten Hag and his squad have undertaken in the Premier League of late. But now they\u2019re in reverse again and have dropped to seventh in the standings.<\/p>\n

Next up for\u00a0United\u00a0is the visit of Chelsea, who battled well with ten men to see off Brighton on Sunday. Here\u2019s what Ten Hag needs to do ahead of their meeting at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n

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Drop the passengers<\/h2>\n
\"Marcus<\/figure>\n

Rashford was horrendous against Newcastle \/ Chris Brunskill\/Fantasista\/GettyImages<\/p>\n

There isn\u2019t a lot left to be said in this department that hasn\u2019t been covered in other columns or Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher\u2019s rants on\u00a0Sky Sports\u2019 Super Sunday<\/em>, but we\u2019re going to give it a good go anyway.<\/p>\n

Marcus Rashford \u2013 offered nothing. Anthony Martial \u2013 offered nothing. Scott McTominay \u2013 offered nothing. They cannot be rewarded with another start in such a pivotal fixture.<\/p>\n

Ten Hag has been quick to handle ill-discipline within the confides of his Carrington walls before. That ruthlessness can\u2019t ignore what happens on the pitch. It\u2019s bad when even the derided Antony can come on and have more of an impact.<\/p>\n

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A new midfield experiment<\/h2>\n
\"Kobbie<\/figure>\n

Mainoo had a lot on his plate \/ Chris Brunskill\/Fantasista\/GettyImages<\/p>\n

Sticking with McTominay \u2013 who hasn\u2019t been given enough of a rough ride \u2013 he essentially left 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo to try and stay afloat alone in a midfield battle against two of the Premier League\u2019s most notorious hard-men in Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.<\/p>\n

If United are to beat Chelsea, they are going to need to match them physically. If McTominay plays for that reason, it cannot be in the same role. Mainoo needs more support.<\/p>\n

Ten Hag isn\u2019t exactly blessed with alternative options at the moment, but this is the perfect opportunity for the world to see if Sofyan Amrabat has a long-term future at the club after an underwhelming start to the season.<\/p>\n

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Bring some intensity, for goodness sake<\/h2>\n
\"Rasmus<\/figure>\n

Hojlund\u2019s reintroduction will be crucial \/ James Gill \u2013 Danehouse\/GettyImages<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve had to lament United for their lack of pressing, aggression and intensity already this season.<\/p>\n

Maybe they should be afforded a bit of leeway after playing roughly 700 games last term, but this is ridiculous. There\u2019s a difference between being knackered and languid, and too often have this United side blurred those lines.<\/p>\n

Martial and Rashford\u2019s main offences against Newcastle were that they just walked about the pitch and let runners by them with no attempt to stop them. Bringing in Rasmus Hojlund up front and Antony out wide should at least ensure the same doesn\u2019t happen again.<\/p>\n

Chelsea are\u00a0starting to show the characteristics of a typical Mauricio Pochettino team, and the greatest concern for United should be they have the power and frenzy of his most idealistic sides. If the Blues win that battle, they are likely to win the game as well.<\/p>\n

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