There was absolutely no urgency.
The mood amongst Manchester United fans right now is not at its most positive. Rival clubs strengthening in the transfer market and disappointing pre-season form has not done much to inspire hope for the season ahead among the fanbase.
A video of the team doing a ‘rondo’ – a drill in which two players try to intercept first time passes between teammates standing in a circle – has only compounded fans’ fears.
Journalist Samuel Lukhurst tweeted a video of the pre-season squad doing a rondo, and the players failed to string more than four quick passes together while generally appearing disinterested.
One-touch keep-ball #mufc pic.twitter.com/yDySnSSoFb
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) July 30, 2018
The reaction was as you’d expect – fans panicking at the lack of sharpness and the players’ apparently lack of ability to keep the ball in tight spaces.
— MadMontana (@MadMontana) July 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/shora7/status/1023967513258876928
We are in trouble pic.twitter.com/pQPIhFRRnS
— Wayne Perry (@Zazzy1Arda) July 30, 2018
The natural comparison to Premier League champions and local rivals Manchester City, who excel at this sort of exercise, has only made matters worse.
https://twitter.com/h4mzi/status/1023976983519272960
Some United fans are so embarrassed by the video they’d rather it was removed from public domain.
DELETE BEFORE ANYONE SEES IT
— gent. (@polloshkagent) July 30, 2018
It’s not as if United lack the players to play quick, passing football. Paul Pogba, Fred, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, and Ander Herrera are all capable enough midfielders to adopt the style of play the fans seem to want, but it is up to Mourinho to coach it into them.
