Three ways to back your team: Man Utd
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Jose planning for the future
Jose Mourinho is taking his Manchester United side in a new direction. Getting rid of the likes of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic proves he wants fresh blood in his team. Younger, hungrier, more ambitious players who can lead the side to glory for years to come.
The Special One may be playing the long game, but he wants instant success in the coming year, with an improvement on last season’s efforts the least expected of his crop. Manchester United have a big campaign ahead, let’s check up on how Coral’s odds compilers see it working out.
Instant impact needed from the new faces
The Red Devils are back in the Champions League. Jose may have missed out on the top-four Premier League finish he would’ve mapped out 12 months ago, but they managed to sneak in through the back door, winning the Europa League to be gifted entry into the continent’s premier competition.
That is exactly where Mourinho believes he belongs as a manager, on the main stage, that’s where fans want to be playing their football, and that’s where the club’s money men need to be to help balance the books as transfer fees and wages spiral out of control. Everton striker Romelu Lukaku is a £75m target, with the free-scoring Belgian expected to arrive any day now. An expensive buy, but he won’t be the last big name coming to Old Trafford this summer. Can he help guide Man Utd to the Premier League title? Of course. Will he help guide them to the prize? Our traders want to keep United onside, and price them up as 3/1 second favourites for league glory, behind Man City.
United’s FA Cup form must be respected
United rated as the FA Cup’s most successful side on a dozen titles until earlier this year when Arsenal picked up number 13. The Manchester lot won the much-loved trophy as recently as 2016, beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Wembley. Puncheon had The Eagles ahead that day, but a late equaliser from Mata and extra-time winner from Lingard turned the game on its head. They did win the League Cup last season, but were knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a bad-tempered sixth-round. A great side in knockout football, they will be difficult to ignore at 13/2 to win the 2018 FA Cup, while a league and cup double is yours at 18/1. A handy bet for fans, one that should keep you involved for much of the year.
Will Man Utd complete the European double?
Domestic prizes are nice, but what Mourinho really wants is to be crowned king of Europe again. The confident gaffer would love nothing more than to march his troops towards the Champions League title, on the back of winning the Europa League last season. It will take two or three new players of the highest quality to achieve that, but the names being targeted by Jose are impressive, showing interest in the likes of Ronaldo and Bale. One more marquee signing from a major European club is certain, and you can take a punt on Man Utd to win the Champions League at a cracking 14/1 with Coral.
