Alexis Sanchez won’t admit it but Chile’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was probably a blessing in disguise.

The forward hadn’t had a proper summer off in the past nine years, so his break before this year’s preseason would’ve been like a dream come true for the twenty-nine year old.

In Manchester United’s opening Premier League game against Leicester City; Sanchez looked fitter, fresher and hungrier as The Red Devils managed to beat The Foxes by a 2-1 scoreline.

Yet the Chilean still didn’t look to be at his dominant, dangerous best. In truth, it’s taken him a bit of time to settle in at Old Trafford.

Sanchez, on the most part, has been played in his favoured left-wing position since his arrival from Arsenal in January, yet he hasn’t really thrived since his move.

In total, Alexis has featured in nineteen games and in those he’s just scored three times and created three assists. Those aren’t the kind of numbers Man United and their fans were expecting from a potential game changer.

Now the hope is that the extended holiday will help, and of course it should, but there’s another factor Sanchez has to overcome.

The forward needs to get his mojo back and find his confidence. A goal early on in this campaign could be just the ticket.

He needs to get a spark that boosts his morale and has him believing in himself again.

If he can continue his decent start to the season and build on it with a goal or two, then that could give him the belief that he can step up and become the superstar that the United fans having been craving for.

It was telling that the forward really wanted to take the penalty that United captain Paul Pogba eventually took and scored. It shows you that Sanchez had a desire to get on the scoresheet and it might also tell us that he believes that he needs to do it sooner rather than later this term.

His boss Jose Mourinho managed to excuse Alexis for his slowness in adapting to the United way but he also stated that he expects better from his player this term:

“I’m not a big fan of the winter market because the players are coming in the middle of the season and it is not easy for them to adapt.

“So I think after a few months with us, now to start the season I think it is a perfect moment for him to establish himself as an important player for us.”

The Man United number seven clearly has the ability and he’s now reaching peak fitness again, so if he can rediscover his world class creative talents then I’d be expecting him to take games by the scruff of the neck and to cause havoc in the opposition’s half.

If Alexis Sanchez can reach top form at Old Trafford, then Manchester United could challenge for major titles again.

But the attacker needs to get back amongst the goals first!

Posted on August 16th, 2018 by scott
Filed under: Article