The 2014-15 Premier League season was a trying year for a Manchester United club that struggled with consistency and ultimately failed to contend for a title. After flirting with the leaders briefly, they ended up with a fourth-place finish behind Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal.
However, United did show glimpses of its potential under Louis van Gaal and with just over a month before the new season kicks off, there are several reasons to believe this team is destined for better results. Here is a look at the four main reasons why Manchester United should be better heading in to the 2015-16 Premier League season.
A Full Year Under Van Gaal
For all of the talk about manager Louis van Gaal and whether his strategy will fit with the pieces currently in place at Old Trafford, there hasn’t been nearly enough talk about the time it takes for a club to fully buy into what a manager envisions them doing. A full year of experience under van Gaal should help that process along and even the manager will be refreshed following a summer off. United struggled with consistency in its first season under van Gaal but a full year of experience should ultimately help them in the long run. They’ve already shown what they’re capable of; they just need to do it regularly.
Better Balance
There is no doubt about the skill that will wear United red this season and the better balance throughout the squad should help the team take a step forward. In addition to the players already on the roster, there have been plenty of rumors about who United will bring in before the summer transfer window closes.
Remember, this is a team with a massive budget, so with plenty of money to spend, it won’t be a surprise if they bring in at least a couple of big names before the season begins. Memphis Depay has already been added and names like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Nicolas Otamendi are being bandied about. The club’s strengths and weaknesses are being addressed and there is no doubt they will not only have better talent this season but talent more suited to what Van Gaal wants to accomplish.
Individual Improvements
While the experience will help expedite the process, there is every expectation that the individual players on the roster will be better next season and in particular Angel Di Maria. Di Maria has shown flashes of his elite skill set at United but he struggled with consistency and should benefit from the full year of experience. Meanwhile, players like Ander Herrera will be in a position to succeed from the outset after proving he is better suited on the wing for United last season. He finished with six goals last season, which was tied for fourth on the team. This is a team that was close to the top of the table and with some minor tweaks and an improved offense – they had 62 goals last season – they’ll be in much better shape.
There is no denying the talent on van Gaal’s roster and the expectation is that certain players like Di Maria and Herrera will be better overall this coming season.
The Focus On Football
One area that van Gaal has already addressed is the team’s preseason tour with more of a focus on football and less travel to promote commercial interests. There is no doubt that United will have its hands full competing with Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table and in order to succeed, they have to be focused on football from the outset. Often times, Man U has such a big brand that preseason can be more for marketing and advertising. Van Gaal has made it clear that’s not the priority. This year, it is to set on a strong foundation to their season with some early success that they can build off of moving forward.
