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As a team, Manchester United have come on leaps and bounds since Jose Mourinho’s departure and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s subsequent arrival – the Norwegian has won 10 of his 12 games since taking the helm in December – but there are some players in particular who have made huge improvements themselves over the course of the season.
Equally, though, there is one who has steadily declined and is currently a shadow of the player we saw last season under Mourinho. So, who are the Red Devils’ most improved and far removed players?
Most Improved: Marcus Rashford
It is a close one between the England international and Paul Pogba, who have both undergone extraordinary transformations in 2019 but, considering the lack of opportunities afforded to him prior to Solskjaer’s arrival and the extent to which he is now capitalising on the regular minutes granted by the ‘Baby Faced Assassin’, Rashford takes the title.
The 21-year-old has scored six goals and chalked up two assists under new management, shining in the centre-forward role which he was very rarely deployed in while Mourinho reigned and deservedly won January’s Player of the Month award having had a sensational month.
Far Removed: Ashley Young
The absence of Luke Shaw saw ageing winger Ashley Young deployed at left-back last campaign and he was excellent, recording 30 Premier League appearances and contributing to seven goals as United finished second place – albeit 19 points behind centurions and local rivals Manchester City.
However, the 33-year-old has been pretty poor this season and, as he enters his twilight years, may find that his Old Trafford days are numbered, particularly as his contract runs out in the summer.
Shaw signed a new deal in October which saw his wages boosted to £195,000-a-week, making him one of the club’s highest earners, and so it seems unlikely that the United bosses will grant Young a new deal if Shaw is to be their number one choice going forward.
Young has been a faithful servant to the Red Devils since his switch from Aston Villa but, should this indeed be the 39-cap international’s last season at the club, he is hardly going out with a bang – a dim fizz, if anything.
Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…
