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The relentlessness of the Premier League means success can only be sustained by developing year after year.
Sir Alex Ferguson knew this best and always adjusted his team accordingly in each transfer window. It could be argued that United haven’t done so since.
On paper, last year’s recruits should turn the team into title challengers, or at least top-four certainties. But this season has proven that development is defined not only by the caliber of players a manager brings in, but also by the chemistry they have with the existing squad.
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Chelsea were another example of former Old Trafford forward Romelu Lukaku. In an attempt to build on last year’s Champions League success, the attacker proved more of a hindrance than a help.
Conversely, after winning the title in the 2020/21 season, Manchester City brought in Jack Grealish for £100m and won the league again this season. Now they’ve brought in Erling Haaland to keep the momentum going.
Liverpool brought in Thiago and Luis Diaz in the 18 months following their first Premier League win of 2020. They fit seamlessly into Jurgen Klopp’s scheme and were therefore on the verge of a quadruple this season.
They now seem ready to transfer Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich and have already replaced him with Darwin Nunez. Meanwhile, United are no further ahead since their last trophy success – the Europa League – five years ago.
Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold noted this and how important it is for clubs at the top to keep advancing or risk falling behind.
Following his side’s FA Cup triumph over Chelsea last month, he said: “Growing up I remember looking at Man United and thinking what it would be like if they were fighting for league titles every year and every year would fight for Champions League trophies.
“You’re probably thinking, ‘We shouldn’t have taken this continued period of success for granted, because now it seems like we’re a long way from it.’
“For us, fans and players, we cannot become complacent and just get used to it. We have to enjoy the game as long as possible because it won’t last forever.”
His words are a warning to new United boss Erik ten Hag. Once he finds his recipe for success, he must continue to mold and adjust his side. While his three consecutive Dutch titles rightly deserve high praise, the Eredivisie requires less evolution to stay on top.
If Ten Hag is to start a dynasty at United he must not rest on his laurels and continue to make ambitious moves in the transfer market for years to come. Part of his job will be making sure he moves employees around before their expiration date and replenishes his roster with fresher and more progressive talent. More specifically, they need to bring the right mentality that could make all the difference during his tenure.
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