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29 March 2024

Manchester United's secret dream team: Kagawa, Fellaini, Van Persie, Rooney

Shinji Kagawa (right) of Japan scored a brace against South Korea during the Kirin Challenge Cup international at Sapporo Dome on Wednesday in Japan. (GETTY)

Published
By Football Correspondent with Agencies

In the end, Manchester United fans are feeling that the team is a little undercooked in terms of a title defence.

For the more belligerent, yet-to-get-over-the-‘Fergie-hangover’ fan, even a top four spot now seems in danger.

After 7 years of plenty, is it time for 7 years of famine (cue Arsenal’s Ozil move to signal end of their 7 years of famine, wait, 8 years)?

Or, is it?

The biggest mystery at Old Trafford is not Wayne Rooney’s constant injury problems; Phil Jones regression from ‘full-back bombing forward’ to a wing back who cannot centre the ball; Ryan Giggs playing 90 minutes or Danny Welbeck’s choice of final ball.

It is why David Moyes has not used Shinji Kagawa.

The “not match-fit” excuse just does not add up.

Especially not as the 24-year-old Japanese midfielder arrived in Japan ahead of international friendlies against Guatemala and Ghana.

What did Sir Alex Ferguson see in Kagawa that David Moyes does not?

What do the Borussia Dortmund fans see?

Using the hashtag #freeshinji, Borussia Dortmund fans took to Twitter to urge the Champions League finalists to re-sign Kagawa, who helped them win back-to-back Bundesliga titles before securing a move to Old Trafford in 2012.

United fans are licking their wounds this morning, believing that Luka Modric, Mesuit Ozil or at least Anders Herrera were needed to fill the dough-nut sized hole in mid-field.

The fact is, with Marouanne Fellaini, signed yesterday from Everton and Shinji Kagawa, Moyes actually has the midfield runners he is looking for. Not the Tom Cleverley type runner, but the players who Michael Carrick can release to run at the defence, split it open and get Robin Van Persie scoring again.

No, there will be no dream team of Ronaldo, Rooney, Fabregas and Van Persie.

But, Van Persie, Rooney, Kagawa and Fellaini can create a dream team of their own.

When asked whether he would be staying at Old Trafford, Kagawa, reportedly the subject of interest from his former club Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid, said "Yes that's right".

"Tough times are continuing, but all I can do is to work hard," he added, according to news reports on Tuesday.

Asian champions Japan face Guatemala on Friday at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, home of Kagawa's former club Cerezo Osaka, before a friendly against Ghana in Yokohama on September 10.

Time to play him Moyes.