If Manchester United want to start competing for regular honours, then I feel as though we need to change our approach and mentality during the second half of matches.
During the last two games against Crystal Palace and Arsenal, United have let the game drift at crucial moments, which has resulted in United losing points from good positions.
The game against Palace was a good example of when I say that United should change their mentality and approach because United should have been more ruthless, and scored more goals in the second half but for some reason the players let Palace back into the game by giving the ball to them, and as a result of this, the Eagles got encouragement and subsequently scored late on in the second half.
If United want to be a team that aims to compete for major trophies, then they must not let the game drift and give teams encouragement that they can get something from the game. For example, when United do have the ball, they must be composed and patient because not only does that give the players a breather but it also gives United a good chance of scoring another goal, which in the game at Selhurst Park, would have put the game to bed.
Against Arsenal, the second half was the same as it was on Wednesday night. Even though Arsenal are a superior team to Palace as the league table shows, I feel as though we could have handled the ball a lot better and tried to take the sting out of the game by passing it to each other, which would have frustrated the Arsenal home fans. The fact that United kept surrendering possession, it played into Arsenal’s hands and United could not cope with the Gunner’s sustained pressure. What United could have done to prevent that was push up the pitch a lot more and be brave when they have the ball.
United will get there under Erik ten Hag, but if United want to accelerate the process, then they need to change their second half approach and mentality.