On The Ball | Manchester United’s defence is providing solid foundations for unbeaten run, but there is room for improvement
- Manchester United are now unbeaten in 14 games
- The Europa League now offers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s best hope of silverware this season
Since conceding three times to Everton on February 6, United have conceded only three goals in 11 matches and kept eight clean sheets. Among those were away matches which United won against Manchester City, Real Sociedad and Milan. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to build his team from the back last season and that’s why he signed Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan Bissaka. The record of United’s defence was similar to runaway leaders Manchester City and Liverpool’s last season.
A lack of pre-season, a Greek tragedy and Tottenham scoring six skewed the figures for this season, but form favours United who’ve also twice beaten West Ham, the Premier League’s fifth best team without conceding. Solskjaer’s stubborn side haven’t lost for 14 games and the defence has become a major reason for it.
Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire were two of their best players in Milan. It helped that they had such a confident goalkeeper behind them in Dean Henderson. You could clearly hear the voices of him and Maguire echoing around an empty San Siro. It helped too that Fred and Scott McTominay shielded in front, though Milan didn’t press as much as in the first leg – nor as much as United expected them to in San Siro. Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Relax.
The positioning of and distribution of United’s two central defenders was key. United knew from the start that the central defenders had to create smart overloads against Milan’s forwards since that would be a key to breaking them down and creating chances. Creation was not a word you’d use to describe United’s first half endeavours, but the defence held firm and weren’t pressed as intensely as expected. When they were Scott McTominay and Fred helped out and were there to bring balance in United’s build up play.
United had less possession than Milan, yet still controlled the game after going ahead. There would be no sitting back and defending the lead like the first leg. Instead, United’s defenders have been pushing increasingly high and also defending man for man when needed. Attitude helps and the team took the game to Milan despite holding the lead. This is not catenaccio. Manchester United play a surprisingly high line as part of a pressing game, which they should be credited for.
