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We are now seriously starting to feel the effects of Manchester United’s recent failures, and it serves as a timely reminder of the importance of a strong end to the season.
A 13-day break between the 1-1 draw at West Ham and United’s next game, Monday’s trip to Everton, is unprecedented in February.
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But that is the result of no European football to enjoy during the weeks, thanks to a 15th-place finish and Europa League final defeat last season.
While other clubs continued their FA Cup adventures at the weekend, United fans were forced to do other things with their lives.
If there was any season to go on a cup run, it was this one. Yet, we watched first-hurdle exits against League Two Grimsby Town and crisis club Brighton in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup respectively.
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The worst part is that this prolonged absence from watching Michael Carrick’s resurgent Red Devils is only just the beginning.
There will be 11 days between the 4 March match up at Newcastle United and the crunch clash against Aston Villa on 15 March.
There will be at 21 days between the 20 March visit to Bournemouth and hosting Leeds United at Old Trafford on the weekend commencing 11 April.
The breaks might be welcome for some players vying to stay fit for the summer’s World Cup after the frantic schedule of recent years.
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However, this is not a schedule United can get used to. It has only emphasised the fact that anything other than a return to Europe next season would be catastrophic.
Carrick’s side are in a good position, sitting in fourth with 12 games to go and five Champions League places for England all but confirmed
But Chelsea and Liverpool, both strongly tipped to finish higher at the dawn of the campaign, are trailing by one and three points respectively.
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Nobody show Roy Keane this acceptance of a drop in standards, but even if United slip into the Europa League spots, it would be a successful season.
Any European commitments would be a success compared to this.
Find more from Alex Turk at Turk Talks FC