Is this the decade that the unthinkable happens to the winningest English club in Premier League history: Manchester United gets relegated?
Perhaps not this year or the next, but the club’s dramatic decline over the last few years has been nothing short of astonishing.
The Red Devils are languishing at 15th spot of the English Premier League, following a 1-0 loss at home to fellow underachievers Arsenal, who are stuck at ninth.
As if that weren’t enough, United lost to lowkey Turkish champions Istanbul Basaksehir in a Champions League group stage match on Thursday, Nov. 5.
Red Devils legend Paul Scholes, former teammate of United manager Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer, described the 2-1 debacle as “disappointing” and “embarrassing,” but I’m pretty sure he was being polite.
Still group leaders with eight points ahead of RB Leipzig and PSG, United most likely will advance to the knockout stage, but losing to the “weakest” side in the group is quite the
red flag.
Upon its return to Premier League action on Nov. 7, United faces erstwhile league leader Everton, which is reeling from back-to-back away loses to slip to fourth place.
A loss for Everton wouldn’t be much of a disaster, but it would be for United.
If United lose in Goodison Park, the club’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League and even the Europa League will be in serious danger.
Worse, the Red Devils could find itself on the edge of the relegation zone.
How is it possible that a wealthy super club that dominated the first two decades of the 29-season-old Premier League winning 13 titles, add to that three Champions League trophies, suddenly find itself this close to football hell?