Premier League midseason report card: Manchester United

Manchester United are second in the Premier League at the halfway mark. What grade did they get for their performances over the first half of the season?

The Good

Manchester United are comfortably in second place in the Premier League table, and in the unlikely event City slip up, they’re almost certain to be the team that capitalizes. That may not be much consolation to a fanbase desperate for their first Premier League title since 2012-13, but their current position has more to do with City’s excellence than their own shortcomings. Jose Mourinho’s side are on pace to finish with 88 points, which in any other season would be title-challenging form.

As for the players, there’s a lot to like. Paul Pogba has been limited to eight starts by injury and suspension, but he’s been superb when he has played, making the most of the freedom provided to him by Nemanja Matic, who has slotted seamlessly into the starting XI after a big-money move in the summer. The other big summer signing, Romelu Lukaku, also hit the ground running. The Belgian has 14 goals in 24 starts in the Premier League and Champions League and has been a reliable focal point for the attack when he isn’t scoring.

United also cruised through their (admittedly weak) Champions League group, winning five of their six matches to finish in first place. They were rewarded with a very winnable round of 16 tie against Sevilla, and with the league seemingly out of reach, Mourinho may prioritize success in Europe in the second half of the season, as he did on his way to winning the Europa League last year.

The Bad

We shouldn’t be hypercritical of United for failing to keep up with the historic pace City are setting, but their deficit in the title race would rankle less if they showed more ambition against elite opposition. Mourinho has won plenty of trophies, including three Premier League titles; he’s clearly very good at his job. But given the money United have spent, and the success City are having playing such a fluid style of soccer, it’s fair to ask whether the Special One could give his players a little more freedom going forward, especially in big matches.

Outside of Mourinho’s tactics, the biggest disappointment on the pitch has been Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who seemed primed for a breakout campaign after finding his feet in the second half of last season, especially in the Europa League. But the Armenian, after a decent start, has struggled, and has now been replaced in the starting XI by Jesse Lingard. The left-back position also remains a problem, with Ashley Young emerging as the first choice ahead of Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind and Luke Shaw.

Finally, United are over reliant on Pogba, with Mourinho going so far as to use his absence as an excuse for setting up his team so defensively in certain matches. Pogba’s an exceptional player — any team would miss him — but given the riches at United’s disposal, it’s striking how poorly equipped they are in midfield when he’s absent.

Next: Ranking every Premier League season

What’s next?

With the Premier League likely out of reach and United suffering a shock loss to Bristol City in the League Cup quarterfinals, there are only two trophies left for Mourinho to win. They have what should be a straightforward FA Cup third round draw at home to Derby and play Sevilla in the round of 16 in the Champions League. The Champions League is obviously the more coveted of the two, but Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, PSG and Real Madrid would all be favorites against Mourinho’s side.

That means the FA Cup is their best route to a trophy. Even that might not satisfy a fanbase with its sights set on bigger things, but some kind of silverware feels like a must if Mourinho is going to stick with the club for another full season. Then again, by that point, they might want him gone.

The Grade

B: fair or not, City’s historic first half has changed the perception of United’s season. The Red Devils have been good, but good won’t be enough this year. They’ll need to make a truly memorable run in Europe, or for City to collapse, if this season is to be considered a success.