In all the excitement and hoopla of Manchester United’s second half of the season, there was one important element that the club were missing: A ruthless striker.
Fans and media praised Bruno Fernandes to the hilt, but he did nothing more than what a €55 million signing show do. The Red Devils could spend as much as €80m on him through add-ons.
Fernandes scored 12 goals in half a season in all competitions. Yet, what many seem not to realise is that eight of those goals were from penalties.
Yes, they all count the same on the scoresheet, but if you are a manager or sporting director piecing a title-challenger together, you cannot expect all of his goals to come from the spot. This isn’t fantasy football.
Of course, Fernandes’ play can be praised when €105m transfer Paul Pogba has proven himself to not be up for the challenge at Old Trafford. Pogba missed much of the campaign through injury – and potentially wanting to leave.
Pogba’s poor play and Manchester United’s struggles in big games (FA Cup semifinal and Europa League semifinal defeats) once again proved selling striker Romelu Lukaku was the wrong move.
Anthony Martial had a brilliant season with 23 goals in all competitions and Marcus Rashford had 22 goals in all tournaments. Yet, in big matches they too went missing.
While the Red Devils fell to Sevilla 2-1 in the Europa League semifinal, on the other side of the bracket, Lukaku scored twice as Inter Milan steamrolled Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0. The Belgian has an incredible Europa League scoring streak having tallied a goal in 10 straight Europa League games.
The striker’s two-goal haul versus Shakhtar Donetsk pushed his total to 33 goals in 50 matches in all competitions. Lukaku has helped turn Inter Milan into a Serie A title contender and this week, could lift the Europa League trophy.
Lukaku has compiled 4,099 minutes of football in 2019-20 and averages a goal every 124 minutes. In Serie A, he exceeded his expected goals (xG) number of 20.79 with 23 goals and posted an xG per 90 minutes of 0.63.
Fernandes’ had an xG per 90 of 0.44 while taking 3.27 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Lukaku had an average of 2.90 shots per 90 minutes in Serie A, showing he was more efficient with his shooting.
What about Martial and Rashford? Martial also exceeded his xG of 13.24 in the Premier League. His xG per 90 minutes was 0.45 while averaging 2.69 shots per 90 minutes.
Although Rashford exceeded his expected assists with seven (5.46 xA), he did not exceed his xG in the Premier League. Rashford tallied 17 goals, which was 2.50 off his xG number of 19.50.
In three of Rashford’s five seasons at Old Trafford, he has failed to reach his xG. This was his second straight season to fail.
So, what do the numbers tell us? Well, for starters, had Manchester United kept Lukaku and created an attacking plan to feed him the ball, they would have had three forwards in double-digit goals.
It also tells us Pogba should have been sold, not Lukaku. Not only did Pogba miss a lot of matches, when he was on the pitch, 1,206 minutes, he scored just once and added three Premier League assists.
Pogba’s was below his xG (2.15) for the fifth straight season averaging 0.16 xG per game from 1.64 shots per 90 minutes. His xG per game figure was the lowest of his career.
On Friday night, Lukaku may score in his 11th straight Europa League game and lift the tournament’s trophy. Pogba and company are on holiday.