Manchester United's next manager could be the most critical decision the club has made since Sir Alex Ferguson resigned, given the number of players out of form and confidence.
The performances of Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka have been met with scorn and hostility. Since his £50 million move from Selhurst Park in 2019, the former Crystal Palace defender has been through the most trying, uncomfortable, and perplexing phase of his life.
Wan-Bissaka has been scrutinized in a way that has never been done before.
Throughout the season, Roy Keane has slammed the 23-year-performances, old's frequently following up reasonable criticism with excessively simplistic comments about his "not being good enough." Wan-Bissaka was once considered as the 'greatest one-on-one full-back in the world,' according to the former United captain.
Those were the bold remarks of Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool defender, after the United right-back muted Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling's contributions in a way that most defenders could only dream of. But what went wrong for Wan-Bissaka, whose confidence has crumbled along with his performances?
"In that position, I think any other full-back in Europe would be away because of his pace," Carragher remarked about Wan-Bissaka in 2020. "I believe Wan-Bissaka is the best one-on-one defender in the world as a full-back." "I don't believe he'd be beaten by anyone."
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's decision to bring Wan-Bissaka to Old Trafford was widely questioned. He had a fantastic season for Crystal Palace, securing his right flank with old-fashioned, no-nonsense defence that would have put him on Sven Goran Eriksson's England radar.
While Wan-Bissaka has frequently found himself in a defender's no man's land this season, where he neither holds his position to protect the space in behind nor presses the opponent to win the ball back, the United full-back was a master at shepherding the ball and the opponent out of play using the bi-lines.
Wan-Bissaka has been scrutinized in a way that has never been done before.
Except that Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick have sought to mold him into an attacking full back who contributes just as much in the attacking third as he does in his own. It's a strategy that has turned a defensive phenomena into a so-called'modern full-back' who is frequently confused, out of place, and, most importantly, insecure.
Wan-results Bissaka's under Roy Hodgson's strong and solid guidance were far from mysterious. He was refreshing in that he executed his most crucial defensive duties well and took joy in doing the little things right.
However, two managers at Old Trafford have tried to mold him into something he isn't, and now many Manchester fans want him to leave. Outsiders may not perceive Wan-Bissaka as an arrogant or disruptive player who ignores coaches and does his own thing; in fact, he may have had a better season if he had done so.
If the next United manager chooses to give Wan-Bissaka another chance, the 23-year-old will provide more quality and consistency if he is allowed to return to what he knows and does best: shutting off attackers and blocking United's right flank.
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