5 Things Fans Wish Went Differently for Manchester United in 2014-15

The last few weeks have been reasonably giddy for fans of Manchester United. Saturday's injury-hit 1-0 defeat to Chelsea will not dampen spirits too much, as wins against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Liverpool have left United within touching distance of Champions League qualification. 

The victories over City and Liverpool were, of course, particularly sweet. 

However, for United, the battle for second place will always struggle to capture the imagination. This is a club with whom success has become synonymous. Thus, there is plenty of regret associated with this campaign, though if a return to the big time in Europe is indeed achieved, it will have to be considered a success.

Let's take a look at five of those regrets.

The Click Came Too Late

Jon Super/Associated Press

In terms of regrets, this is the big one. 

There can be little doubt that Louis van Gaal's United have now clicked. Saturday's loss at Stamford Bridge was, if anything, further evidence of the effectiveness of the balance of personnel and system that Van Gaal deployed in recent games.

The dominance in possession brought about by the system was retained against Chelsea. The cutting edge execution brought about by key combinations of individual players was not. 

However, rather than lament the loss to Chelsea, the real regret comes in how long it took for the click to arrive. There were hints of it along the way, at home to Queens Park Rangers, the first half against Leicester City away and home wins against Hull City and Newcastle United for example.

There were flashes of it away to Manchester City and at home to Chelsea and Liverpool.

However, whether through accident of team selection in the absence of Robin van Persie and Angel Di Maria or the players finally really getting Van Gaal's coaching, it was in March's win against Spurs when the click appeared definitive.

It was good timing in the sense that the ensuing run of fixtures appear to have all but guaranteed Champions League football next season, but it came much too late for United to be in with a realistic shot at the league title. Had it arrived three months earlier, United fans could have been in for a much more exciting May.

United's Injury Record

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One of the reasons Van Gaal was forced into repeatedly changing his system, causing much disruption to United's fluency, was the sheer number of injuries the side sustained in the first half of the season. 

Since the season kicked off, there have been 69 reported instances of United players being injured, per PhysioRoom.com. 

It is easy to imagine that the aforementioned click might have come sooner had Van Gaal not been forced to continual adapt to player absences during his first few months in charge. 

There is a silver lining to every cloud, of course, because the players' returning to fitness brought with it this exceptional Vine.

Leicester's Incredible Fightback

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

There is a theory among some United fans that the dismal collapse United endured in the second half of their 5-3 loss to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in September was a turning point for the whole season. 

In the first game after the end of the transfer window, United demolished QPR 4-0. In the subsequent game came one of the most exciting halves of attacking play seen by United fans for many years. Radamel Falcao laid on a stunning assist for Robin van Persie. Angel Di Maria—who had been electric against QPR—scored a goal so impressive that it almost defies hyperbole.

Then it all fell apart, and with it, it seems, so did United's confidence in a gung-ho approach. The next phase of the season was defined by a more cautious approach.

Although that brought a decent return, it is hard not to look at what might have been had United's attacking players been allowed to continue to play with absolute freedom for a little longer.

Losing the FA Cup Quarter-Final

Jon Super/Associated Press

This one was tough to take. 

This was the game that immediately preceded United's best run of form. In retrospect, the wins over City and Liverpool have eased the sting, but in the moment, crashing out of the FA Cup was painful. 

It seemed like the path may be opening up for Van Gaal to win some silverware in his first season in charge when Chelsea and Manchester City were knocked out earlier in the competition. However, Arsenal hoist United on their own petard, striking the Red Devils on the counter-attack. 

The game was the inverse of so many United-Arsenal clashes, and it was made all the more painful by United academy product Danny Welbeck scoring the winner.

United's long FA Cup drought will last at least another season.

Radamel Falcao's Entire Season

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Four goals, four assists and a whole lot of disappointment. 

The Colombian's arrival was a genuine transfer shock and brought with it huge excitement. Old Trafford was replete with replica shirts bearing his name and number when the first home game following his arrival rolled around. 

However, it has just not happened for Falcao at United. Following an early injury, he struggled with his fitness. He then struggled to re-establish himself in the team. His first touch and confidence both seem to have deserted him. Almost all season long, he has looked like he is trying too hard. 

It is such a shame. At his imperious best, he was trading blows with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in La Liga's scoring charts. This season, he has rarely troubled the opposition net.

The beautiful dream of a fully firing Falcao never came to pass, which is surely something United fans wish had gone differently.