Jose Mourinho in the dugout. Smalling and Blind as the central defenders. Mkhitaryan killing the game.That was how Manchester United looked like the last time the Red Devils won their last trophy, the UEFA Europa League title back in 2017. After the dreadful Champions League exit, following the 1-0 home defeat to Atletico Madrid, the Old Trafford outfit are on the verge of catastrophe – this will be their fifth trophyless season in a row!HE SAID THIS FOUR YEARS AGO? pic.twitter.com/XaRiXIgAM6— Rimedi (@r1medi) March 15, 2022 Disappointing, humiliating, devastating. For the club of such tradition and level, another year without silverware has brought despair among both fans and players. Tens of millions of dollars invested in ludicrously high transfers and contracts didn’t pay off, let alone result in sought-after accolades. After drought with the club’s legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the board turned to much-experienced Ralf Rangnick, but his lacklustre mission in the dugout has already taken its toll only four months after his arrival to Stretford.Manchester United end the season trophyless for the fifth campaign in a row 😳 pic.twitter.com/wQkt87MbaA— GOAL (@goal) March 15, 2022 United are looking dull, wandering both on the pitch in terms of tactics, likewise off the pitch with a gloomy strategy. Suppose there’s a place for debate regarding the course of the club in years to come. Still, there’s no denial about the contemporary facts – United’s icon Cristiano Ronaldo is about to miss a trophy for the first time since the 2009/10 season (when he was with Real Madrid). Is Manchester united no longer a big team?#uefachampionsleague pic.twitter.com/8QB8ZIBOVY— Mozzart Bet Kenya (@mozzartbetkenya) March 16, 2022 For the player of such ilk, it’s needless to say this will be considered a bitter epilogue of a hearth-worming episode with his return. Furthermore, his recent getaway to Portugal – for what was supposed to be recovering from injury – tells a story of its own. He and Rangnick are probably at the loggerheads over the Portuguese’s role in the squad, which caused a division among the team and added some more instability into the locker room.This is the first time Cristiano Ronaldo will finish a season without a club trophy since 2009-10 🤯 pic.twitter.com/5pJopgUcNG— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 15, 2022 With hindsight, it’s also evident that the Red Devils have been struggling with the Spanish teams in the last decade and a half. To put things into perspective, they’ve made through only three knockout ties against the Spaniards out of 13 since 2009. For the club that likes to call itself ‘big’ (in terms of European football), this is entirely unacceptable, indeed.United has lost 10 of its last 13 direct knockout matches vs. Spanish teams:2009 Barça❌2011 Barça❌2012 Athletic❌2013 Madrid❌2017 Celta✅2017 Madrid❌2018 Sevilla❌2019 Barça❌2020 Sevilla❌2021 R.Sociedad✅2021 Granada✅2021 Villarreal❌2022 Atleti❌ pic.twitter.com/OluuXvkXQf— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) March 15, 2022 Bearing in mind the fact they were eliminated from both domestic cups, Rangnick’s underachievers are now left with only English Premier League. However, their 20-point deficit to the table-toppers Manchester City. The tables have turned thoroughly since those magical 90s, and once giants are now picking up pieces left from the same table, they were sitting at the head a few decades ago. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUERound of 16, second legTuesday, 8 MarchBayern – Salzburg 7-1 (4-0)/Lewandowski 12 (p), 21 (p), 23, Gnabry 31, Muller 54, 83, Sane 85 – Kjaergaard 71/Liverpool – Inter 0-1 (0-0)/Lautaro 61/Wednesday, 9 MarchReal Madrid – PSG 3-1 (0-1)/Benzema 61, 76, 78 – Mbappe 39/Manchester City – Sporting 0-0Tuesday, 15 MarchAjax – Benfica 0-1 (0-0)/Nunez 77/Man.Utd. – Atl.Madrid 0-1 (0-1)/Lodi 41/Wednesday, 16 March23.00: (2.00) Juventus (3.50) Villareal (4.10)23.00: (4.10) Lille (3.50) Chelsea (2.00)***odds are subject to change
