At 4:15 a.m. on 16 February, Manchester United will host Brighton in the Premier League. To some extent, this is the most crucial battle for Manchester United to retain the hope of competing for the fourth place: once they cannot win, Manchester United is likely to be surpassed by Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and even Wolves, who have many make-up matches.
What is more worrying is that the problems that Manchester United have exposed today are all that Brighton "likes".
[Brighton is known as "Little Manchester City", they are very tough on the offensive end]
Brighton is a very "special" team, their overall investment is not high, the players are not big, but the system is very mature. It has the title of "Little Manchester City". At the same time, they are also an "atypical middle and lower Premier League team": no matter how strong the opponent is, their dictionary is only attack and hardcore.
Pictured: Brighton's top 3 goals from last season
In the first half of last season, the underperforming them only achieved 2 draws and 4 defeats against BIG6. But in the second half, they found a feeling and won liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and drew with Chelsea. What about this season? They also had great wins over Leicester City, two draws with Chelsea and a 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
More importantly, they have not changed their playing style this season, even if the ability to seize opportunities is still due to the shortcomings of the player's strength, but they can really give the opponent tactical damage. Moreover, in the midfield's tangled confrontation and offensive and defensive conversion, it is very sharp.
Pictured: Brighton played tough against Mossy this season
After watching the GIF, we can all feel the characteristics of Brighton's attack very directly: the pass is very smooth, the player's position selection and impact are more reasonable, and the pressure and attack and defense conversion are excellent.
And these characteristics of them, for Manchester United, can be called "fatal".
[The Red Devils' recent problems are obvious, and the biggest hidden worry is exactly what the opponent likes]
Speaking in a pre-match press conference, Lonnick said he had scored first in 11 of the 13 games he had played under United, but many of them had not been won. In the recent three matches, Manchester United have faced Fort Mi, Burnley and Southampton all being forced to draw with their opponents in the lead.
The core factor is that the team maximized the oppression, confrontation and impact in the first half, and relied on high output to create an advantage. When the physical fitness declined, the weakness of the team was fully revealed. What is more worrying is that the team's offensive end will fall into the chaos of the system and the overall defense of the attack and defense is not in place, and then let the opponent impact the team's lack of upper-hand and athletic ability in the backcourt.
Maguire's frequent relegation to the background board is not just a representation of his shortcomings such as his inherent mobility.
Pictured: United's problems with attacking and turning to goal clearly led to goal conceding
Compared to the problem of attacking and turning on defense against Burnley, the nearly similar but more "irritating" loss of the ball against saints presents more problems: United's defensive shortcomings on the offensive end are fully exposed without full acceleration of the opponent's attack.
Pictured: Against the Saints, United's defenders on the flanks did not meet the standards
Marcus Rashford and Sancho have indeed had more defensive postures recently, and they have a certain effect. However, under the advanced age of C Luo, they further intensified the front field oppression and consumption, which will expose the problem of defense awareness and willingness in a specific period of time.
Lonnick said in a pre-match press conference that Fred could play in this game and perhaps his mobility would become a key point in United's defensive protection. But Cavani still does not have the possibility of coming on, then if Manchester United still discharges the trident of Ronaldo, Rashford and Sancho, then the protection of the front for the midfield is still not up to standard.
[Losing is equivalent to Manchester United saying goodbye to the top four in advance? 】
United scored 40 points in 24 games, but Arsenal (39 points in 22 games), Wolves (37 points in 23 games) and Tottenham Hotspur (36 points in 22 games) all have a multi-game advantage. Once Manchester United can't score 3 points this game, it is a super probability event to be overtaken by one or more of the three teams behind them.
Even if United win against Leeds United and Watford next, the team will need to face Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur next. Moreover, during the match between Leeds United and Watford, Manchester United also need to be distracted by the Champions League knockout match with Atletico. And Manchester United's current situation, facing Leeds United and Watford, there is a certainty of victory?
Although there are no long-term worries, United really need to focus on the game against Brighton. How to adjust the system, avoid their own problems and limit their opponents, while striving to win is very critical.
Lonnick, who said in the pre-match press conference that "fighting for four is achievement", put himself in a very awkward situation and the predecessor showed a "lesson". What kind of public opinion will be harsh after losing, dare not think...