Manchester United has leadership issues

In spite of endless criticisms about style of play, Manchester United’s biggest problem remains a lack of leadership on the pitch.

Getting a read on this current Manchester United team is no easy feat. As we approach the Premier League’s crucial festive period, the Red Devils are sitting in third place only one point off the top of the table. In Europe, a tough trip to Germany for a must-win game against Wolfsburg awaits them if they hope to advance in the Champions League, yet crucially on all fronts they control their own destiny.

This is the best position Manchester United have found themselves in since the retirement of their legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, but how do they make sure that they now capitalize on it?

Coach Louis van Gaal has his team incredibly well-drilled, and in many ways they’re the picture of organization. Having only conceded 10 goals in 14 games, they have the league’s best defensive unit, an impressive achievement considering the team’s rearguard hasn’t necessarily been a strength in recent history.

Still, United’s lack of goals is an obvious concern. Fans can often be heard proclaiming that “the Manchester United way” is to play progressive, attacking football. The Old Trafford faithful want to see their players outscore and dominate the opposition.

20 goals in 14 league games is not what they’ve grown accustomed to, nor is five scoreless performances between the league and Champions League a common occurrence. What’s to blame for such a lackluster return?

Many have turned their attention to the team’s attacking options. Without question, there are certain departments in which they need to strengthen in the final third too.

The team seems to lack an out-and-out goalscorer. Record-breaking teenage signing Anthony Martial showed signs of possibly being able to fill that void early in the season, but the goals have dried up for him in recent times, as much due to him being forced into a wider role in the system as anything else.

Then there’s Wayne Rooney, the man who should be the club’s talisman. Rooney is the longest-serving player at the club, he’s within touching distance of being the team’s all-time leading scorer, yet at the age of 30, Manchester United’s No. 10 looks like a shadow of his former self.

Rooney has only scored two league goals in the first 14 games. For not only the club’s marquee attacking talent, but also the club captain, it’s not unfair for the fans and management to be demanding more of him.

United would benefit from more direct, attacking play on the wings too. Juan Mata has been one of the team’s most effective attacking players, yet his creativity is likely being wasted by playing out of position in the wide areas.

There have been spells of brilliance and frustration from players like Jesse Lingard and Memphis Depay, but the consistency just hasn’t been there, nor is it easy to find in players as young and inexperienced as that duo.

Combined, that group of players do have the potential to score goals. They’ve done it individually in different spells of their career, and even at Manchester United.

That’s the issue that leads many to accuse van Gaal of stifling his team’s creativity. Although he may not necessarily encourage them to play with the ultimate freedom, the Dutchman’s priority is to control a game and for players to take responsibility on the ball.

In recent performances, there hasn’t seemed to be many men in red jerseys willing to do that, yet the performance of one player in the game against Leicester City may have highlighted exactly what United have been missing.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany’s midfield maestro, is far from a giant in terms of stature, yet he dominated in the air against high-flying Leicester, and with his team trailing, it was Schweinsteiger who rose to meet the ball from a corner to give the Red Devils a vital equalizer.

Schweinsteiger is a winner. He’s lifted the World Cup with his national team, countless domestic titles and a Champions League with Bayern Munich. As another player who has advanced in years, he may not necessarily bring the quality he once did to the pitch, but it’s his leadership that might be most important of all.

Where Wayne Rooney used to be renowned for constant communication on the pitch, bordering upon reaching a place where he would often find himself in trouble due to his temper, much of that fire has become increasingly difficult to identify in the heat of battle.

That’s as big a loss as the Englishman’s goals. Even when a team is sent out to play with a purpose, they require direction on the pitch. With van Gaal’s style of coaching to quietly observe from the dugout while the game is in progress, Manchester United need direction to come from their more senior players on the pitch.

The personality of the squad is a quiet one though. Players like Michael Carrick, Chris Smalling and Daley Blind have not shown a willingness to take the initiative on the pitch, but they may need to step into more vocal roles if their team is to succeed.

If Rooney isn’t going to be the man to help drive his team forward or hold them to task for their mistakes during the run of play, van Gaal may need to consider handing over his armband to someone who will.

If Manchester United are to push through and continue their pursuit for trophies deep into the season, they’re going to need Bastian Schweinsteiger and others like them to take a hold of the team.

The great Manchester United sides always had dominant leaders like Bryan Robson and Roy Keane, if this group wants a chance to join them, someone needs to emerge to fill that void.