Fans also slammed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for consistently starting an out-of-form Anthony Martial this season. Questions have also been raised on why Manchester United took nine months to recruit Edinson Cavani when he should have been signed to the squad in January instead of Odion Ighalo.
However, there is a realization that one of the biggest reservations back then – Cavani's injury record – was probably a rather good reason to be cautious, and that this is becoming an issue as we approach the 2020/21 season.
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Cavani's injury record over the past two years shows that he has only gone two months without being injured once – in October and November of 2019. The two off-seasons and the Covid-19 lockdown are the other holes in the record.
The Uruguayan has now suffered five different fractures at United, in addition to the original Covid-19 suspension and an unforgivable three-match suspension following his social networking gaffe, and is already back on the recovery table. He took a knock in training that Solskjaer seemed to believe can be easily shaken off, but it has now cost him four games – and he has yet to start training. It seems that a seemingly insignificant knock would result in at least six games being missed.
The 34-year-proclivity olds for injury may not have been such a concern if Martial had maintained his excellent form from the previous season. Most people expected that the Frenchman will spearhead the United offense this season, with Cavani serving as a rotational and/or influence sub. But, despite his inconsistent results, Martial has established himself as United's first-choice center-forward, and his absences are felt keenly because there are few alternatives.
This is why Solskjaer has been doing the right thing by pushing Martial to play through his slump to recover his shape. Cavani – or his body – would actually be unable to withstand the pressure of heading United's line before the end of the season, according to the boss.
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In addition, there are options. Marcus Rashford has plenty of experience as a center forward, but he has proved to be a more potent tool on the left flank. Mason Greenwood is a natural center forward, but he is still a youth, might not be physically strong enough for the job, and has no experience playing up top in the Premier League. The next wave of talented players, such as Joe Hugill and Charlie McNeill, are extremely promising but far from set. There is, in effect, no backup.
A shift of formation may provide the solution. Rashford and Greenwood could operate as twin attackers, although this would necessitate a tactical change to 3-5-2, with the full-backs adding depth. 4-4-2 will not fit unless Bruno Fernandes wa s moved to the wing or further into midfield, none of which the manager is likely to like.
So, in all probability, Martial will lead the line at Stamford Bridge today, and Solskjaer will simply hope that something in the Frenchman's brain works and he begins firing again. That is United's only hope of settling the issue and, probably, the explanation why the boss continues to pick him amid his poor results.
‘Anthony understands what we want, and he is working very hard with the squad, and that is what pleases me the most when I see him every day in training,' Solskjaer said ahead of today's game.
‘He is not going to sit around and wait for things to happen; he understands that he must make things happen for himself, and we support him, mentor him, and know he has this quality and value.
‘Everyone goes through tough times from time to time, and I believe we saw it tonight; he is working hard, and that is the most important part.'
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