Changing Expectations at Old Trafford?

The feeling of being told by our own fans that we are not good enough to win the champions league is a new one for many Manchester United fans, including myself. David Moyes’ start to his new job has been as tough as expected as the results in the premier league have failed to impress and because of this the expectations of the Manchester United fans have dramatically dropped.

However, unlike in the league, Manchester United have started well in their pursuit to land the Champions League trophy for a fourth time with a comprehensive victory in their opener against Bayer Leverkusen and then followed that up by earning a point in Donetsk. Yet, despite a promising start to the campaign, you will be hard pressed to find United fans who genuinely believe that United’s quest for European glory this season will end up as a success.

It is hard to deny that the United squad does not have the same amount of quality of last years champions Bayern Munich who put on a classy display at the Etihad on Wednesday night beating City 3-1, in truth a 2 goal loss flattered City. However, despite being inferior to Europe’s best United do still poses the same squad as last season if not a stronger one with the additions of Janujaz, Fellaini and Wilfred Zaha. If we think back to last season this United squad deserved a victory against Real Madrid, which was even admitted by then Real boss Jose Mourinho who said after the match The better team lost.’ United were denied that night by only Nani’s controversial sending off, perhaps showing that the players we have still have the ability to go a long way in the competition.

The only change since this event has been the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson under whom fans were dreaming of a treble in January this year with the very same players. Understandably having lost arguably the greatest ever football manager the United fans expect a lull while David Moyes adjusts to managing a club the size of Manchester United. Nevertheless, if Moyes can do this quickly and pick up some good results in the coming weeks perhaps the United fans will again begin to believe in the players rather than noticing their limitations.

Taking into account some of the winners of major tournaments over recent years it is evident that it is not always the best team that comes out on top. In 2012 a Chelsea team that was weaker than it had been in previous years, finishing a long distance behind United and City in the premier league title race, managed to triumph in Munich under the management of Di Mateo who like Moyes had little European experience at the time.

There is therefore hope for United this season provided Moyes gets his tactical decisions correct and our players play to their ability, which we are yet to see this season. If Van Persie, Rooney and those around them hit form expectations will without doubt again rocket. United fans always expect success and when Moyes can pick up a few results and performances improve which is only a matter of time United fans will soon start thinking of European success as a possibility.