Manchester United had over a month between the end of the 2019/20 season and the start of the 2020/21 season, which proved to be a recipe for disaster for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.
Falling in a Europa League knockout tie at the end of the season is now pretty routine for United, but the 33 days between losing 2-1 to Sevilla on August 16th and losing to Crystal Palace on September 19th took their toll.
For the first few weeks of the season, United were lethargic, having only played one pre-season friendly in which 11 senior players did not appear. Only one of their first six Premier League games saw them perform well, and that was against Newcastle, in which they had to come back from a goal down.
In 2021, Solskjaer will aim for a different outcome, with United planning a more intensive pre-season schedule, both in terms of games and training sessions.
Of course, many players will be involved in this summer's European Championship — particularly the tired Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, as well as the injured Harry Maguire — but there will be more than a month between the Euro 2020 final and the start of the new Premier League season (July 11th) (August 14th).
Solskjaer may be secretly hoping that his players' countries are knocked out early, giving them extra time to relax on a beach someplace.
In any case, he must begin assembling a side capable of challenging for the Premier League title next season, after overseeing a progressive season that saw them finish second last season.
Man City are the club to beat, though United will struggle to stay in second place, with Chelsea and Liverpool certain to improve on last year's performances.
nited and their Premier League rivals can now nominate a matchday roster of 20 players, with a maximum of three substitutes.
United should have a lot stronger 20 in August than they had in May, assuming they can maintain Paul Pogba and David de Gea, two of the most high-profile departures this summer.
Given United's demands at right-wing and center-back, adding Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane now appears to be a minimum necessity, though they may struggle to find the cash for both of them, as well as a striker (like Harry Kane or Erling Haaland) and a defensive midfielder (such as Declan Rice).
If De Gea left, Kieran Trippier might be a backup right-back option, while Tom Heaton might be the No.2 goalkeeper if he arrives.
While defensive bench mainstays like Brandon Williams and Axel Tuanzebe may be allowed to depart either permanently or on loan, United should maintain Alex Telles to put the pressure on the first-choice full-backs. James Garner, Shola Shoretire, and Teden Mengi are among the young players who could be loaned.
Amad should be kept on the flanks to give cover, with Anthony Martial and Sancho vying for a spot in the front three alongside Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, and Mason Greenwood.
Solskjaer's lack of depth was demonstrated by the fact that he closed 2020/21 with a game — the Europa League final — in which he refused to make a change until the 100th minute. As a first-team squad, United had nowhere near 20 players to rotate.
When the new season begins in August, they must be in better shape.
United's possible matchday squad of 20 players:
Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Pogba; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Cavani. Starting XI: Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Pogba; Fred, Pogba; Fred, Pogba; Fred, Pogba; Fred, Pogba
Subs: De Gea, Trippier, Telles, Lindelof, McTominay, Van de Beek, James, Amad, Greenwood; De Gea, Trippier, Telles, Lindelof, McTominay, Van de Beek, James, Amad, Greenwood; De Gea, Trippier, Telles,
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