Manchester United’s decision to part company with manager Erik ten Hag on Monday inevitably sparked plenty of debate in the football world.
Quite why United decided to stick with Ten Hag this summer is one of life’s great mysteries. Ultimately, the Dutchman was always doomed to fail.
While some fans will point to the two trophies United won under Ten Hag, those successes cannot mask how utterly woeful they were in the Premier League last season.
That point was hammered home when the Premier League betting odds were published ahead of the new campaign. The Red Devils were 25/1 shots to win the title.
However you try and flower it up, those odds represent a massive fall from grace for a club which became accustomed to success under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Without wishing to dwell too much on Ten Hag, it is worth noting that he seems like a decent man. He does have something about him, but not for a club of United’s stature.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe must now ensure the people he brought on board to run the club make the right choice to replace Ten Hag. If they fail, things could go south quickly.
In the short-term, former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been tasked with steadying the ship. Whether he is the right choice for the permanent role is a debate for another time.
He would strengthen his claims if he guided United to victory over Chelsea on Sunday, particularly given the club has a run of favourable fixtures during the rest of November.
A victory at Old Trafford would move United just three points adrift of the Blues and provide a welcome boost for a club which desperately needs a pick-me-up.
However, if United lose and other results go against them, they could end the latest round of matches in 16th place in the Premier League.
That scenario is unthinkable given that United went into the season with hopes of forcing their way into contention for a top-four finish.
On that basis, even though it is a completely overused cliche, the clash with Chelsea on Sunday is a ‘must-win’ game. It’s as ‘must-win’ as ‘must-win’ gets.
Achieving the feat will be no easy task given that Chelsea have looked much improved under new manager Enzo Maresca this season.
Playmaker Cole Palmer has the ability to cause endless problems and United will need to keep a close eye on him throughout the game.
Chelsea have also started to look more balanced in midfield, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandes forging a strong partnership this season.
Van Nistelrooy must take the threat they pose seriously, and a team selection which does not have Manuel Ugarte in it will be the wrong one.
United have faced numerous pivotal moments during their illustrious history, and Sunday’s game unquestionably falls into that category.
Any long-term thinking needs to be put to one side for this fixture. United need to win the game. Any other result will not suffice.
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