Would you like a number 7?
If you have ever played Street Fighter II or Super Smash Bros, you are then familiar with “here comes a new challenger.” Manchester City are sitting pretty, 20 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss, 67 goals, 12 points clear of second. Despite a few injuries, they are coasting. Since their £60 million bid last summer, everything seemed on track for Alexis Sanchez to join. They get a World Class footballer, a top 5 Premier League player, and someone who knows Pep very well and everyone naturally thinks that is that, the deal is done.
Here comes a new challenger! Manchester United. Where did they come from? Ed Woodward and Jose Mourinho threw a monkey wrench and now have signed Alexis Sanchez.
Yes, there is big money thrown around, these are multi billion dollar organizations, keep your calculators away they already have people to crunch numbers. So, let’s talk football.
Man Utd’s right wing is LONELY, there has been Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Henrikh Mkhitaryan (sad it did not work at Man Utd, best of luck at Arsenal, thank you for the memories and Europa League goal) and Marcus Rashford tried on the right side, to varying results, however there is still a need for a right winger.
In step Alexis Sanchez, many people might forget, that he has played on the right wing. Throughout his career he has scored 47 goals and provided 39 assists from the right wing, don’t forget that goal against Real Madrid.
This move works well for both Man Utd and Alexis Sanchez. For Alexis, he gets to be the man and a focal point for Man Utd’s attack, he will be a starter wearing the famous number 7 kit, while playing in the Champions League and playing for a club he has spoken highly of before. For Man Utd, Alexis adds additional stardust and strengthens a weak position.
Man Utd have a young squad, especially in attack. There’s a lot of inexperience and Alexis brings in a vast amount of experience, add that to his ridiculous technique, devastating pace, finishing and his desire to flat out win, it is seemingly a fit from day one. There is the question of Alexis’ propensity to hold onto the ball for too long, over-dribble and not find the right pass but that may be something Jose Mourinho can curtail.
The move has been questioned with people claiming he just wants money in addition to the the reports that him and other Arsenal players were in bust-ups as well as not celebrating with him.
Perhaps, the reason for Alexis’ frustrations are a lack of ambition, as he said “I remember today, a conversation I had with (Thierry) Henry, a historic Arsenal player, who changed club for the same reason and today is my turn.” Man Utd has the history, the money and ambition to be the best, Alexis is 29 year old and wants to win trophies and just maybe a change of scenery will provide that spark.
Or maybe he just wants to be at Man Utd and the opportunity has arrived, as he said to MUTV “Since I was a boy I’ve always said my dream was to play for Man Utd. I’m not saying that because I’m here now — I always said as a kid that I’d like to play for United, and I once spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson about it.”
Alexis has worked under Pep Guardiola, whose players need to fit into his system, and Arsene Wenger who is a player’s coach, working with Jose Mourinho will be something to keep an eye on. Jose’s system requires individual brilliance and Alexis Sanchez has bags of it. Alexis Sanchez also tracks back and works hard defensively, he does not want to rest, he simply just wants to play football which is something that Jose Mourinho will love.
I have given Alexis shtick, even likening him to NBA superstar Russell Westbrook. Brilliant individual players who’s desire to win and propensity to do it all by themselves often are to the detriment of the team, however, it is going to be fun to see Alexis link up with Pogba, Martial, Lingard, Rashford, Mata, and Lukaku . So here is to Alexis Sanchez, Man Utd are getting a world class footballer and seeing the number 7 back at Old Trafford is going to have the stadium rocking.
