Manchester United: Player-by-Player Guide to Their 2013-14 Premier League Squad

Manchester United cruised to Premier League glory last season, trumping local rivals Manchester City by a resounding 11 points.

The Red Devils enter this campaign with a new manager and a mostly unchanged squad.

Expectations are at their lowest for the side in almost a decade. Some in the footballing world have dared to suggest United are third favourites for the domestic Holy Grail.

Here is a full player-by-player guide for the 2013/14 squad, complete with stats, key areas to improve and the biggest asset each player brings to the team.

All statistics provided in this article are courtesy of WhoScored.

David De Gea

Position: Goalkeeper

Area to Improve: Aerial Dominance

David de Gea improved greatly in most areas of his game last term but could still be more confident dealing with crosses and set piece situations.

Biggest Asset: Reflexes

Is there a goalkeeper in world football with better reflexes and ability to pull off a stunning save than the Spaniard?

Rafael

Position: Right-back

Key 2012/13 Stat: 3.1 tackles per game

Area to Improve: Awareness

Like De Gea, Rafael was one of the Red Devils' most improved players last season. He still has room to work on his defensive awareness and marking, though.

Biggest Asset: Attacking Verve

It won't be long before the Brazilian is considered one of the best attacking full-backs in Europe.

Patrice Evra

Position: Left-back

Key 2012/13 Stat: 0.8 successful dribbles per game

Area to Improve: Marking

Patrice Evra has shown too great a tendency to get caught out of position, letting opposing wingers in behind him on the left flank.

Biggest Asset: Dressing-room influence

Patrice Evra is a fine attacking player, but perhaps his best attribute is his ability to lead a dressing room with a positive attitude and broad smile.

Phil Jones

Position: Central defender

Key 2012/13 Stat: 1.9 interceptions per game

Area to Improve: Footballing intelligence

Phil Jones could be headed for future injury concerns if he continues to throw himself around the pitch like a madman during games.

Biggest Asset: Versatility

His tenacity and drive should not be undervalued, though. The England international can play a variety of positions and has the right mentality to be a future captain for the Red Devils.

Rio Ferdinand

Position: Central defender

Key 2012/13 Stat: 89.6 percent pass completion

Area to Improve: Mobility

It is perhaps harsh to ask a 34-year-old to suddenly grow a fresh pair of legs, but Rio Ferdinand's biggest hindrance has long been his lack of mobility.

Biggest Asset: Awareness

This being said, the defender's defensive awareness and ability to counter pacy players with tactical nous stands him above many of his peers.

Jonny Evans

Position: Central defender

Key 2012/13 Stat: 2.3 aerial duels won per game

Area to Improve: Presence

It has taken him a while, but Jonny Evans is finally becoming a reliable player in the United back line. This being said, his sheer presence in the box could still use some work.

Biggest Asset: Aerial dominance

The area of Evans' game that has come the furthest since his early days in a United shirt is surely his ability to win 50/50 headers.

Anderson

Position: Central midfield

Key 2012/13 Stat: Nine Premier League starts

Area to Improve: Reliability

Anderson has never hit the heights expected of him since moving to Old Trafford. In many ways, he is lucky to still be at the club.

Biggest Asset: Energy

When on form, he can be a useful asset in terms of bringing a relentless energy to the side's midfield.

Wayne Rooney

Position: Forward

Key 2012/13 Stat: 10 assists

Area to Improve: Attitude

Why should Manchester United fight so hard for a player who doesn't want to be at the club? David Moyes doesn't want a sulking player in his ranks next term.

Biggest Asset: Raw power

Wayne Rooney's best position remains up front. His raw power and ability to score goals from all over the park makes him a world-class footballer.

Ryan Giggs

Position: Left winger

Key 2012/13 Stat: 1.1 key passes per game

Area to Improve: N/A

It is almost impossible to pick an area for the evergreen Welshman to improve in. For a professional footballer about to turn 40, he has kept himself relevant by adaptation to a changing game.

Biggest Asset: Experience

How can one measure the value a player with 13 Premier League winners' medals brings to a club?

Chris Smalling

Position: Central defender

Key 2012/13 Stat: 5.5 clearances per game

Area to Improve: Slide tackling

With such competition for places in the Manchester United defence, Chris Smalling will need to prove himself a reliable option next term.

Biggest Asset: Physicality

He has all the physical traits to make it as a top defender. It will just be about him being able to take his game to the next level.

Anders Lindegaard

Position: Goalkeeper

Area to Improve: Confidence

Anders Lindegaard looked shaky whenever given game time in the stead of David de Gea last season.

Biggest Asset: Maturity

He has the intelligence and maturity to be a top keeper, but perhaps he would be best served changing clubs in search of regular first-team football.

Javier Hernandez

Position: Forward

Key 2012/13 Stat: 10 goals

Area to Improve: Forcefulness

Javier Hernandez rarely let the Red Devils down last season. Whenever called upon, he delivered. Nine league starts is a disappointing number for the Mexican forward, who could stand to be a little more forceful in his claim for a first-team spot.

Biggest Asset: Attacking movement

Hernandez is a nightmare for opposing defenders. The way he darts around between the lines causes havoc.

Nemanja Vidic

Position: Central defender

Key 2012/13 Stat: 4.2 aerial duels won per game

Area to Improve: N/A

Nemanja Vidic is one of the best central defenders in the world and an absolutely vital component of the United squad.

Biggest Asset: Strength

He brings a variety of assets to the team, just one of which being his imposing strength and sheer brute force.

Michael Carrick

Position: Central midfield

Key 2012/13 Stat: 77.1 passes per game

Area to Improve: Early-season form

Michael Carrick is coming off the back of his best ever season. But many forget the holding midfielder was not at his best early in the campaign, as has been a trend in other seasons.

Biggest Asset: Calmness

Carrick doesn't move around a lot on the field. He is rather a conduit for his team's passing, one who has the ability to control a game with the greatest of ease.

Nani

Position: Right winger

Key 2012/13 Stat: Seven Premier League starts

Area to Improve: Consistency

We all know Nani to be a devastating attacking threat, but too often he has gone missing in past campaigns when his team has needed him.

Biggest Asset: Ball skill

He is an incredibly gifted player, though. One who is capable of beating just about any defender in the game one-on-one.

Ashley Young

Position: Left winger

Key 2012/13 Stat: Zero goals

Area to Improve: Attacking influence

Ashley Young was fairly useless for great periods of last season, puffing away up and down the left flank without creating a great deal.

Biggest Asset: Defensive contribution

Saying a winger's biggest asset is his willingness to help out at the back is not the best compliment one can give.

Danny Welbeck

Position: Forward

Key 2012/13 Stat: One goal

Area to Improve: Composure

One league goal is not a good enough return for a player who bills himself as a forward. When he got into a good position last season, he would tend to panic and lose all composure in the box.

Biggest Asset: Doggedness

Welbeck must be praised for his relentless doggedness during games. This was the main reason Sir Alex Ferguson gave him game time in attacking midfield last season.

Robin Van Persie

Position: Forward

Key 2012/13 Stat: 26 goals

Area to Improve: Aerial ability

Robin van Persie is another player for whom it is incredibly difficult to pick a possible area for improvement. If there is one, it is his lack of goals scored with his head.

Biggest Asset: Technique

Not since Eric Cantona have Manchester United fans seen such a technically adroit player at Old Trafford.

Fabio

Position: Right-back

Key 2012/13 Stat: N/A

Area to Improve: Passing

Fabio is back at Old Trafford after a decent loan spell at Queens Park Rangers last season. He is not yet there in terms of the essentials of his game, but the Brazilian has the potential to be just as good as his twin brother.

Biggest Asset: Energy

He can thunder up and down the flanks with tremendous vigour.

Tom Cleverley

Position: Central midfield

Key 2012/13 Stat: 90.2 percent pass completion

Area to Improve: Authority

Tom Cleverley did little wrong last season. He was an able midfield partner for Michael Carrick at his best. He still needs to work on becoming a player capable of exercising control in the middle of the pitch, though.

Biggest Asset: Short passing

Behind the sporadically used Paul Scholes, Cleverley had the best pass completion percentage last season.

Darren Fletcher

Position: Central midfield

Key 2012/13 Stat: N/A

Area to Improve: Fitness

After so long out with injury, Darren Fletcher will have a tough time re-adjusting to top-level football next season.

Biggest Asset: Box-to-box prowess

If there is one need that is more pertinent than any other, it is the lack of a box-to-box midfielder in the Red Devils squad. Darren Fletcher's return could soften any blow that could come from Moyes missing out on top targets in the summer's transfer window.

Antonio Valencia

Position: Right winger

Key 2012/13 Stat: 1.3 accurate crosses per game

Area to Improve: Confidence

It is disappointing Antonio Valencia has chosen to give up the No. 7 shirt. The only possible reason could be his inability to deal with the pressures that come with the famous number.

Biggest Asset: Explosiveness

The Ecuadorian winger was very underwhelming last season. On his day, though, he has an explosive edge that leaves opposing full-backs quaking.

Shinji Kagawa

Position: Attacking midfielder

Key 2012/13 Stat: 89.7 percent pass completion

Area to Improve: Durability

Shinji Kagawa was knocked around a bit in his debut season at Old Trafford. Injury problems and a lack of regular football can be cited as the main reasons for this.

Biggest Asset: Imagination

The Japanese playmaker must be give the regular role of trequartista where he can use his terrific ball skills and creative imagination to provide an influential threat behind Van Persie.

Alexander Buttner

Position: Left-back

Key 2012/13 Stat: 1.4 successful dribbles per game

Area to Improve: Defensive understanding

Manchester United have a host of options at left-back. Alex Buttner will have to improve his defensive awareness if he is to stand out from the crowd.

Biggest Asset: Tenacity

The Dutchman is an indefatigable presence on the left wing, though, marauding forward with a determination to have an impact at the offensive end of the pitch.

Wilfried Zaha

Position: Right winger

Key 2012/13 Stat: N/A

Area to Improve: Crossing

The pure pace and dribbling abilities of Wilfried Zaha will see him get into advanced positions down the wings. All he needs to worry about is delivering an accurate cross into the penalty area.

Biggest Asset: Acceleration

For all of his sharp ball skills and fine balance, Zaha has the potential to be the Red Devils' best winger since Cristiano Ronaldo because of his explosiveness and physical prowess.

Adnan Januzaj

Position: Attacking midfielder

Key 2012/13 Stat: N/A

Area to Improve: Experience

Adnan Januzaj has the potential to be a star. All he needs is regular football and exposure to the rigours of the Premier League.

Biggest Asset: Ball control

The 18-year-old has technical ability well beyond his years. He is not the quickest player, but with his ball control and creativity, this is a minor drawback.