I super excited when I heard the News,Ten Hag needs to be sack if He fail to win us league this season”, Michael Owen is super excited about transfer news coming out of Old Trafford today
We are days away from the 2024/25 season kicking off, with Manchester United set to face Fulham in the opener.
This also means it is time for pre-season predictions, and there are not many analysts willing to stick their neck on the line and back Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United for a big season.
The Premier League asked nine pundits, including former players, for their predictions for 2024/25, and just three of them backed Manchester United for a top four finish.
This is not totally unexpected after United’s dismal finish of eighth last season. Some squad tweaks have been made, but injury issues still persist, particularly at left-back, with Luke Shaw set to miss the first few weeks.
Michael Owen backs United stars to shine
Manchester United are still capable of pulling off big results, with a number of talented players in the squad, the team just needs consistency.
Speaking to the Premier League, various pundits were asked for short verdicts on players to watch this season.
Asked for the most exciting signing of the summer, former Manchester United forward Michael Owen had an easy answer: “Joshua Zirkzee”.
Zirkzee joined United in July from Bologna, becoming the first of four Manchester United signings so far, followed by Leny Yoro, Matthjis de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
Erik ten Hag believes Zirkzee will give United’s attack a new dimension and Owen is clearly as intrigued as many United supporters to see what he can do individually
Owen also backed another Manchester United player when asked to select ‘the best young player’ in the forthcoming season.
He responded: “Kobbie Mainoo”, showing his admiration of the midfield wonderkid who starred at Euro 2024.
Two more pundits echoed the Mainoo selection, with Mainoo amassing three of seven votes. Adam Wharton, Cole Palmer, and Oscar Bobb also picked up nominations.
Owen less than convinced on United’s chances
Michael Owen did not pick out Manchester United as a team he expects to finish inside the top four.
He believes it will be Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool occupying the Champions League spots in a repeat of last season.
But if Zirkzee and Mainoo can have the kind of seasons he expect they might, then Manchester United are in with a real chance of putting together a strong 2024/25, and enjoying a much better campaign than the arduous one we experienced last season.
