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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Casey Evans

Manchester United draw vs Leicester the final nail in the coffin of a disastrous season

Manchester United fans have given up. The team are out of every cup competition and a place in the top four is looking less likely with every game that passes. It is draining the energy of the fanbase.

At Old Trafford on Saturday, frustration became apathy and then nearly anger when James Maddison looked to have restored his side's lead, only for VAR to spare United's blushes. A few people sat behind me in the stands didn't get to see the goal be overruled as they had left as soon as the ball hit the back of the net.

Throughout the game, United looked completely devoid of ideas and when they did find themselves in creative areas, the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo meant the team had no striker to capitalise on the chances they created. And when Marcus Rashford was brought on he offered nothing.

READ MORE: Manchester United summed up their woeful season in 24 minutes against Leicester City

In fact, nothing could have summed up United's calamitous season more than Rashford breaking through on goal in the last minute, only to collide with Anthony Elanga who had made a similar run. So what are the fans supposed to do for the team's remaining eight games?

Most United fans have now accepted that it's not going to get any better this season. There was cautious optimism when Ralf Rangnick was appointed that he would be able to get the best out of these players and salvage the season.

But it quickly became apparent that while Rangnick had a great group of players, he didn't have a great team. Without investment in the January transfer window, the clear holes in the team were still present and the issues he has faced with the centre forward position have been well-documented.

Now most fans are resigned to speculating about who will be the next manager and in some ways mounting unnecessary pressure on the next boss' shoulders. He may take the club in a better direction, but he is unlikely to fix everything immediately and it will take time. However, as United fans have no quality football to distract themselves with, they are letting their imaginations run wild.

Dream transfers and mock teams flood Twitter while debates about preferred managerial appointments rage and the divide in the fanbase is clear to see. So, as well as uniting the team, the next manager will also be tasked with Uniting the fans.

But there are still eight games to go. Eight potentially pointless games that we have to sit through as fans, so hopefully United give us something to cheer about. Even if, in the end, it doesn't particularly matter.

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