Louis Saha believes Manchester United can challenge for major honours
Louis Saha believes Manchester United can challenge for major honours next season, providing they get their recruitment right, as they prepare for the true start of the Michael Carrick era, reports BritPanorama.
Carrick took charge of the Red Devils on an interim basis back in January, just days after Ruben Amorim had left Old Trafford under a cloud. Amorim, who lasted less than 18 months in the dugout, departed controversially after criticising his superiors following a draw away at Leeds.
But Carrick immediately proved to be a hit at United. Back-to-back victories over Manchester City and Arsenal set the tone, with the Red Devils eventually finishing third in the Premier League table—their highest position in three years.
With the season now over, transfer speculation is rife. United have agreed to sign Brazilian midfielder Ederson from Serie A giants Atalanta, while links to the likes of Elliot Anderson, Lewis Hall, Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes remain ongoing.
Saha, speaking exclusively to GB News, believes the Red Devils need at least two midfielders this summer. The Frenchman, who won two crowns during his spell at Old Trafford, thinks a left-back and another striker should also be priorities.
“We need two midfielders. A leader and a very aggressive centre-mid. If you want to win the league, you need this player more than a striker. So a Casemiro replacement, plus more, would be nice,” he said via CasinoNews.
“And you definitely need someone who is a bit more creative, who can provide a bit of support for Bruno Fernandes. Who could maybe be a bit more versatile in his position. Someone who could play on the wing sometimes, be a bit more creative than what we already have with Kobbie Mainoo.”
“That’s very important, but we also need a striker that provides something different to [Benjamin] Sesko. Maybe sometimes it’s good to have [Bryan] Mbeumo there, but I don’t think that is his main quality as a striker. We need a player to bring more goals, I would say, 15 to 20 goals.”
“Someone who can bring more clearances and let’s say, 10 per cent more possession in midfield and less transition. So we can be a bit more dominant physically and tactically. And we definitely need one defender at least, maybe a left-back, who is less injury-prone.”
While Carrick has impressed during his short time in charge, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer represents a cautionary tale. Solskjaer ruled the roost for three years but never got United over the line when it came to a trophy, ultimately losing his job in November 2021 after a chastening 4-1 defeat away at Watford.
To some, Carrick is simply Solskjaer Part Two. Yet Saha disagrees and believes Carrick embodies the blend of qualities from previous managers while also acknowledging the groundwork laid by Amorim during his tenure.
Saha reflected, “I think that Michael Carrick, what he has done, was maybe a continuity of what Ruben Amorim has done as well, and provided a better version. The foundation has been brought to him, without giving too much praise to Amorim.”
Saha concluded that the key challenge ahead is not merely about recruitment but about building a team capable of competing at the highest level, succinctly summarising the task at hand: “We need additions at Manchester United, proper ones. This team is still too weak to compete for the Premier League, Champions League and cups all at once.”
