Since the departure of Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson, Manchester United has struggled to find their form on the field. After his retirement, the “Red Devils” brought in head coach, David Moyes, in hopes that he could sustain the long-term success that the team has experienced under Ferguson guidance.
During Sir Alex Ferguson’s 26 years as the skipper, he led the Reds to 13 Premier League Titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles. Ferguson ended his career as the Manchester United Head Coach with a record of 895 games won, 338 games drawn, and 267 games lost. He is by far the most winningest coach in the history of the world famous football club.
Despite the legacy that was left behind, David Moyes was unable to fill the shoes of Coach Ferguson. The signings of Fellaini, Mata, Herrera, and Falcao all appeared to be blockbuster “busts” as the “Red Devils” ended their season with an abysmal finish of seventh place. Things became so chaotic during the season that Manchester United officials decided to fire Coach Moyes before the year ended. Following his exit, Ryan Giggs, an active player, was appointed as an interim player-coach for the final games of the season.
The following year, Manchester United frantically began their search for a first-class coaching staff. After viewing several qualified candidates, the “Red Devils” elected to hire Louis van Gaal, the former Netherlands international coach. Van Gaal is well known for his attacking prowess. As the Netherlands head coach, van Gaal was able to rack up an abundance of goals by utilizing his flankers and strikers with quick counterattacks and creative ball movement. His offensive expertise have been vital for a “Red Devils” side that looked lackluster and uninspiring in their final third.
Since his arrival, Manchester United has slowly been developing back into a world class organization. The signings that failed under Moyes have begun to blossom under the command of the new skipper. Mata in particular has had a phenomenal season thus far with three goals and three assists in just seven league games.
In addition to the improvement of returning players, van Gaal has brought in some incredible talent during the transfer window. He has spent over 200 million dollars on the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marcos Rojo, Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay, and Anthony Martial. Martial, a 19 year old Frenchman from AS Monaco, was purchased for 57.6 million dollars, the most expensive price tag for a teenager in the history of football. While the price tag is a lot to live up to, Martial seems fit for the challenge, netting three goals and one assist in his first three games as a “Red Devil.” His performances have shown flashes of resemblance to the great Thierry Henry, another French native.
Since the start of the 2015-16 season, Manchester United has looked like the powerhouse they once were while under Ferguson. Van Gaal’s new acquisitions have helped propel the “Red Devils” back to the top at #1 of the English Premier League standings.
Behind Manchester United on the leaderboard is Manchester City, with 15 points, and Arsenal with 13 points. If the “Red Devils” hope to maintain their position as the frontrunner they will need to perform in the coming three weeks. October 4 they are set to face off against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, and October 25 they are set to play Manchester City at home in Old Trafford.  Hopefully the “Red Devils” can stand the test of time and bring the Premier League title back to Old Trafford.