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Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has pointed to the poor performance of three Manchester United players as evidence that everything is wrong with the 20-time English champion.
United had a very disappointing and disappointing season, finishing 8th in the Premier League, their lowest finish since 1989/90.
The Red Devils were also knocked out of the Carabao Cup and Champions League in humiliating fashion. But there was some relief last week for Erik Ten Hag and his players as they secured a stunning 2-1 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Ten Hag implemented a near-perfect planning and tactical approach that Pep Guardiola’s men simply could not find an answer to at Wembley.
However, the win did not completely erase how pitiful the majority of the 2023/24 campaign was and, according to Fabregas, the fall from grace of Jadon Sancho, Sofyan Amrabat and Casemiro is all that is needed.
After a falling out with Ten Hag and a heated public spat with the Dutchman, United decided to part ways temporarily, with Sancho heading off on a six-month loan to Borussia Dortmund. Even before being axed, the Englishman was struggling to make his impact at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Casemiro was unable to replicate the excellent results he displayed in his first season in England. On several occasions last season the Brazilian appeared to struggle with the pace of the Premier League. His erratic passing and reckless diving for challenges were also a constant source of frustration among supporters.
Amrabat arrived from Fiorentina last summer with high expectations, but failed to live up to expectations. The Moroccan has not been able to produce consistent performances and it was not until the last two or three games of his season that he showed glimpses of his quality.
Fabregas spoke on BBC’s Planet Premier League podcast. mirror) said: “Manchester United will come back because they are a big team, but look at Jadon Sancho. “He didn’t do well at United, moved to Dortmund and became the player we all thought he was again.”
“Look at the midfielder (Amrabat) who impressed Morocco at the World Cup. He was fantastic. Then he went to Manchester United and he wasn’t the same player he used to be.”
“Casemiro won the Champions League after the Champions League with Real Madrid.”
“He was the best defensive midfielder in the world, but when he went to Manchester United he looked like a completely different player.”
“Obviously it makes you think something is wrong. “It’s not a coincidence that three top, top players came in and their skills suddenly deteriorated,” he said.
The futures of Manchester United’s Sancho, Amrabat and Casemiro are all uncertain.
Casemiro continues to be strongly linked with a move to the Saudi professional league. United are unlikely to sign Amrabat on a permanent deal and he will almost certainly have to find a new club. Lastly, Dortmund are said to be keen on keeping Sancho around for a bit longer, but it remains to be seen whether that will be loaned back or permanently.
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