World Soccer - UK (2020-12)

Against a backdrop of severe financial
degradation – debts of around€100m

• OM have proved remarkably resilient
  on the field of play in the last12 months,
  securing a most unexpected second-
  place finish in Ligue1 and thus qualifying
  for their first Champions League group
  phase since 2013-14. Europe’s top club
  competition means a great deal in these
  parts, with many still fondly remembering
  the glory days of the1990s, when the
  club lifted the trophy (1992-93) and
  were unlucky to lose on penalties to Red
  Star Belgrade in the1990-91 final. It is
  a source of considerable pride that the
  Provencal outfit remain the only French
  club to ever win the Champions League.
  Coach Andre Villas-Boas, now in his
  second term at the Stade Velodrome, has
  built a gutsy and meticulously-organised
  team worth much more than the sum of
  its parts. They are smart tactically and
  hard to outmanoeuvre. This “bend but
  don’t break” toughness was particularly
  evident in their1-0 victory at PSG in

The problem with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s
side is that you never know which version
of the Red Devils is going to turn up. Will
it be the A team which won seven of their
ten matches against top six clubs in the
Premier League last season? Or the side
which was hammered in home defeats by
Crystal Palace and Spurs this season?
After missing out on the Champions
League in 2019-20, there’s every reason
to believe that the big-match stakes will
bring out the best of their most prominent
stars – midfielders Paul Pogba and Bruno
Fernandes and striker Marcus Rashford.
One of Solskjaer biggest dilemmas is
the composition of his midfield. An engine
room made up of Pogba, Fernandes and
new £35m Dutch signing Donny van de
Beek is a mouthwatering prospect
offensively. But how useful will the trio
be when they have to turn around and
try to stifle opposition counter-attacks?
At the highest level in Europe, such a
formula may just be too adventurous.
The more logical move would have the

MARSEILLE

Underestimate them at your peril

experienced Serb Nemanja Matic or the

promising Scott McTominay anchoring in

front of the back four.

United desperately need to make a

better fist of defending as well. Repeated

howlers from Spanish keeper David De

Gea shines a light on a player in decline.

And just as worrying is the lack of pace

and mobility in central defence of Harry

Maguire and Victor Lindelof. Right now,

the pair are struggling to live up to their

expensive price-tags.

Does Solskjaer have the track record

to lead such a behemoth as United?

In truth, his spells in charge of Molde

and Cardiff City should not have been a

passport to the United dugout. He may

be an icon for all the goals he scored for

the club, but he simply does not belong

in the top bracket of European coaches.

Is a lack of quality at full-back

holding The Red Devils back?

While Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke

Shaw are generally solid, neither offers

enough in an attacking sense, with both

short of penetrative panache and final

ball accuracy. New signing Alex Telles

may offer a solution.

Is Donny van de Beek a bargain?

Certainly. The 23-year-old has it all: work

rate, ball-winning ability, excellent range

of passing, positional awareness, clever

in the timing of his runs and an assured

finisher. Players with only a fraction of his

ability have commanded much higher fees.

September, their first win over their arch-

rivals in nine long and frustrating years.

Naturally their economic difficulties

have rendered expensive new signings

impossible. New director of sport Pablo

Longoria has had to rummage for cast-

offs, bargains and Bosman frees. Fresh

faces include young Argentine centre-

back Leonardo Balerdi (on loan from

Dortmund), Le Havre midfielder Pape

Gueye (ex-Le Havre) and veteranJapan

full-back Yuto Nagatomo (Galatasaray).

MANCHESTER UNITED

JekyllandHydedisplaysarealworry

Payet...Creative king

COACH

Ole Gunnar

Solskjaer

Now approaching

two years at the helm,

Solskjaer has had his

ups and downs in the

Old Trafford hot seat.

The highlight? A

memorable victory v

PSGinaChampions

League last 16 tie

in March 2019.

KEYMAN

Bruno Fernandes

The Portugal ace

has improved United

immeasurably going

forward. Superb in

his touch, vision and

wide range of activity.

YOUNGSTER

TO WATCH

Mason Greenwood

With the English

tabloids very much

on his trail, the striker

needs to concentrate

on what he does best

• finding the net.

COACH

Andre Villas-Boas

Once thought of as a

“Mini-Mourinho”, he

ranintoabrickwall

during unproductive

spells in charge of

Chelsea and Spurs in

the Premier League.

Now on the up again

with a resurgent OM.

KEYMAN

Dimitri Payet

Brilliant left-sided

playmaker now in his

second stint at the

Stade Velodrome.

When the 33-year-

old shines, the entire

side dazzles.

YOUNGSTER

TO WATCH

Boubacar Kamara

Athletic, imposing

and intelligent

midfield holder

or centre-back.

Arguably the most

valuable player

in the squad.

Red Devils new

boy...Van de Beek

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE2020-21

The dark horses

What will be Marseille’s objectives?

OM lost all six group games in 2013-14,

and some might suggest that as long as

they win one or two this time around, no

one will complain. AVB, however, is more

ambitious. He thinks his team can be

surprise packages. The recent victory

over PSG may be a sign that he is right.

Has AVB’s management style changed

since his Premier League days?

It most certainly has. He no longer is the

arrogant young pup who believed he was

the fount off all knowledge. He has learnt

to listen to his players, and at Marseille the

squad have been happy to follow him.

Any strengths and weaknesses?

Left-back is particularly barren, with both

Jordan Amavi and Nagatomo having their

shortcomings. In marked contrast, Croat

Duje Caleta-Car is developing into a top-

class rearguard sentinel. The attacking

threat comes from out wide, where duo

Payet and Florian Thauvin are stationed.