United Lucky 8th?

Manchester United incoming new manager, Erik ten Hag, is unlikely to compete in next year Champion league competition. The interim boss Ralf Rangnick had given up hope qualifying for next season's Champions League.  Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal moved the fourth-placed Gunners six points clear of United, who are sixth. 

The last time United lifted the Champion League trophy was in 2008. They beat Chelsea in Moscow, 6-5 on penalties after 1-1 draw. The soonest for United to compete back in Champion League competition would be in 2024 which 16 years had passed by.

The brutal reality of what Ten Hag is letting himself in for can be illustrated by the fact he is inheriting a bigger, more problematic task at United than Jurgen Klopp did when he succeeded the sacked Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool in October 2015. At least Klopp inherited a unified dressing room devoid of players who thought themselves better than they were, who actually wanted to be at the club, and a base of decent characters to launch Liverpool's road to redemption. In contrast, Ten Hag will be taking on a dysfunctional dressing room inhabited by players who do not want to be there, who are not good enough to be there and a team that embarrassed the club's good name in the 4-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield.

In terms of valuation, United  is leading the other premier league clubs. Forbes 2021 ranked United at no. 4 (below Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich) above (Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur). Hence United has the resources to improve their performance. Of course the question would be how? (or who?)

Real Madrid could be used as the template. The club had won 13 Champion League Titles. To be fair the first title, 1955–56 European Cup was without and English club participation (interestingly there was one Scottish club among the 16 participants). The second time Madrid won (1956-57) United was one of the 21 participants. Hence we might use 12 Madrid titles to United 3 titles in this comparison.   

If money could be titles it looks like Madrid could be one of the proofs. Real Madrid CF (La Liga) Total Gross Salaries for the 2021-2022 Season is £5,296,643 per week. Manchester United FC (Premier League) Total Gross Salaries is £4,119,423 per week. Certainly there is some room to sign expensive footballer stars. Of course the question would be who? which position?   

United did spend more than Madrid in season 21/22. United net spending (Total market value of arrivals minus departures) was €170m to Madrid €90m. But Madrid has a better position in terms of local competition table. They were second in 20/21 and 1st in 21/22 (still 5 games to play with 15 points gap to Barcelona on 2nd). United were 2nd last year and now 6th with 4 more games to play. The gap to 1st place Manchester City is 26 points. 

Sir Fergusson was the manager the last time United won Champion League trophy, He retired in 2013 and since then there are seven managers/care takers: Moyes, Giggs, Van Gaal,  Mourinho,  Solskjær, Carrick and Rangnick. Would Ten Hag be the lucky 8th?