UNITED AND A TEAM OF BUDDING YOUNG LEADERS
Manchester United are set for an intriguing season when the football season across Europe resumes in August.
The club has gone through different phases since the resignation of its long term manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
There is this outgoing and now less influential core still at the club, then a lot more players brought in by the previous caretakers before Jose Mourinho, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal. With more uncertainty over the future of current skipper Wayne Rooney, there could be a new captain in the forthcoming season.
Aside Rooney, Antonio Valencia could lead the team. He is decent in his role as full back after being converted from a winger. He plays an important role in the team and has served long in the team. He is not known to be outspoken.
Michael Carrick ideally should captain the side but that is if he gets to play at all. The veteran has a year to remain at Old Trafford but he is underrated at the club. Not like Paul Scholes underrated more like a DimitarBerbatov underrated. With Mourinho likely to bring in a defensive midfielder, Carrick would at best captain an EFL Cup match against way smaller sides.
Chris Smalling, who was handed the arm band last season, seems to have fallen out with Mourinho so that’s a long shot. With another defender coming in, his influence would surely be watered down.
Paul Pogba would surely be influential in the team as a sure starter. He can motivate as well unlike Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young who are more experienced in the team. He seems to have dropped the burden of high expectations following his record return to the club. He seems to have more responsibility in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Then there is this underrated hard worker Ander Herrera. He is showing traits of leadership and problem management. He is loved by Mourinho and can influence without coercing. He shown traces of his abilities last term and could grow to become a legend at the club.