Mark Goldbridge: Squad Depth Issues Could Derail United’s European Hopes | OneFootball

Mark Goldbridge on Manchester United’s Europa League Progress: A Turning Point or Temporary Fix?

Manchester United are through to the next round of the Europa League after a mixed but ultimately successful performance, and The United Stand host Mark Goldbridge had plenty to say about it. The 3-1 victory against Real Sociedad kept United’s season alive, but Goldbridge was quick to highlight both the positives and the glaring issues that remain.

Amorim’s Influence and Tactical Adjustments

Goldbridge gave a strong endorsement of manager Rúben Amorim, arguing that his tactical adjustments were key to United’s turnaround in the second half. “Rúben Amorim deserves a massive shout out, and it will go unnoticed by people who don’t think on a deeper level,” he insisted.

United’s first-half performance was chaotic, with misplaced passes and poor shot selection. Goldbridge pointed out, “Somebody needed to simplify that game. Second half, completely different side—less long balls, nobody was shooting from stupid areas.” Amorim’s halftime intervention made the difference, helping United create “chance after chance after chance.”

Despite the win, Goldbridge reminded viewers that the team still has a long way to go, especially against stronger opposition: “It wasn’t a 90-minute performance. It was a 45-minute performance. Against a better team, you might be going in at halftime two or three-one down.”

Bruno Fernandes Steps Up, Casemiro Rolls Back the Years

Bruno Fernandes produced a standout display, scoring twice from the penalty spot and adding a well-taken third. Goldbridge was full of praise: “When you score a hat-trick, you’re heading for nines or 9.5s. Two of them were penalties, but the third goal was great.”

Casemiro, who has endured a difficult season, delivered a much-improved second-half performance. “Casemiro in the first half was a bit up and down, but second half, he was flawless. The cover on Dalot was brilliant,” Goldbridge noted. However, he didn’t shy away from the bigger picture: “Casemiro has got to go in the summer. The wage is too much for what we get.”

Squad Depth and Fatigue: A Major Concern

United’s lack of squad depth was another key talking point. Goldbridge highlighted the physical strain on the team: “There are no subs for the front three. If Mason Mount can get back, that’s one player. If Mayu can come back, that’s two.”

With United still competing in multiple competitions, he warned, “They actually kept their fitness levels really high for 90 minutes, but that’s going to be really hard to do when you’re playing Sunday-Thursday-Sunday-Thursday.”

Goldbridge even suggested a pragmatic approach, recalling José Mourinho’s successful Europa League campaign in 2017: “If we want to win this Europa League, we’ve got to start thinking like Mourinho did. You’ve got to start going, ‘You know what? You can do what you like with your Manchester Derby pride. This is £80 million and a trophy, and it can change our future.’”

Are United Real Contenders or Just Surviving?

While many fans are dreaming of a Europa League triumph, Goldbridge kept expectations grounded: “Leon will be better than Sociedad, and Athletic Bilbao—who would be waiting in the semi-final—are better than Leon.”

He acknowledged the excitement but added, “Just because we beat Sociedad doesn’t mean we’re winning this tournament. We’re going to have to get better.”

The victory, however, was crucial to keeping the season alive. “Imagine if we lost. The season would have been over in the middle of March. It’s not like you can look forward to the transfer window—we’ve got no idea what money we’ve got.”

Final Thoughts: A Step Forward, But Work to Do

Goldbridge wrapped up his analysis by stressing the need for consistency: “In the first half, people were playing as individuals. Second half, they played as a team. That’s the Amorim style. They’ve just got to trust each other.”

While the performance gave fans something to cheer about, Goldbridge made it clear that the journey is far from over. “There’s still a lot of work to do. That wasn’t a performance where you go, ‘We’re going to win the tournament,’ but hopefully it’s a performance where a few players start to believe.”

With tougher tests ahead, United must prove they can deliver across 90 minutes—not just in patches. For now, though, the season remains alive, and in Goldbridge’s words, “That’s something to celebrate.”