A Corner Office Soccer Blog
“WE’RE FUCKIN MAN UNITED AND WE’RE NEVER GONNA STOP”
Was the song that was belted out of each and every United supporters’ mouths early Sunday afternoon.
Marcus Rashford Puts a Shot on Target Sunday Afternoon at Old Trafford (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Manchester United’s fate seemed inevitable heading into the FA Cup Quarter-Final against Liverpool FC at Old Trafford, and Solace Outpost Brewery where I found myself, on Sunday. The club’s chances seemed slim heading into the match due to their poor run of recent form dating back to the beginning of the Erik Ten Hag era.
Liverpool on the contrary is in great form, being one of the three teams still present in the Premier League title race. Currently sitting at second in the table, it seemed as if the result of this match was written in the stars before the opening whistle was even blown.
However, Old Trafford was rocking from the get-go. It appeared as if the fans believed in this team for the first time in well over a year. This was because the team showed glimpses of hope and a future. The play was excellent from the first whistle from both sides.
Goals for Liverpool from Alexis Macallister, Mohamed Salah, and Harvey Elliott gave Liverpool multiple leads throughout this match. However, United showed that there is still life in this club that is full of players who will fight for the badge until the very last minute (121’ in fact). This showed that they still believe in their manager and the badge enough to win matches in the only external competition that they still have a spot in.
I understand that compared to past United squads, the bar may be set low for our expectations to be exceeded when we win in an FA Cup Quarter-Final. However, this is the case and we must accept it. However, we as Man United fans must succumb to the fact that this is the current standard of the club.
The most common complaints about United in the past seasons are that the recruiting has been poor, and that the transfers that the front office has decided to make have been dreadful. While this has proven to be true, these players who have been doubted before they even set foot on the pitch seemed to prove that they have that touch of class on their day to belong in a Manchester United lineup. The goalscorers were academy products in Scott Mctominay, Marcus Rashford and wonderkid Amad Diallo, as well as a “failed” transfer in Antony. Not to mention the class that Kobbie Mainoo showed in his time on the pitch. These players have all been written off by the media, but have proven that they still have value.
Antony Points to the Badge after equalizing for United in the 86’ minute. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Take a look at Antony for example. He was supposed to come in and be generational under Ten Hag, but quickly found his way out of the lineup. He came in off the bench and took his opportunity by creating numerous chances and scoring the equalizer. And when he scored he pointed directly to the badge signifying that he still believes in the club as long as we still believe in him, and I think that he may have won back over the hearts of many supporters.
This along with the return of many of the glue guys into the roster such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire brings life back into the squad and henceforth the supporters of it. Especially having gotten the draw of Coventry City in the next round of the FA Cup, the thought of being able to compete in a cup final again is a breath of fresh air for supporters around the world.
Manchester United may not be back to their glory days, but this is certainly a step in the right direction of becoming a squad that is more than the joke of the footballing world, as well as one that could possibly end the season with some hardware.
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