Sport
Mourinho in danger of delivering defensive vulnerability
For years, Manchester United fans were exasperated at the lack of midfield reinforcements, forced to watch Anderson stumble his way around the engine room and look on as Paul Scholes was desperately prized out of retirement. Mourinho in danger of delivering defensive vulnerability.
Then, with the arrival of Louis van Gaal, the much-maligned United owners finally loosened the purse strings and a host of central midfield reinforcements arrived at M16.
Marquee attack-minded stars followed, some with limited success – Angel di Maria – and some who have hit the ground running at full pelt – Anthony Martial.
However, the defence has been somewhat overlooked – a philosophy to make Real Madrid supremo Florentino Perez mightily proud.
Daley Blind has been forced to play an entire season out of position, Antonio Valencia has been converted to a right-back while an over reliance on Chris Smalling hasn’t helped the England defender’s injury issues.
Jose Mourinho is the ultimate pragmatist, and it was thought that identifying this weaker area of the playing personnel would be top of the agenda.
Nonetheless, only Eric Bailly has been brought in to shore up the rearguard, and despite possessing an attack to fear, a vulnerable backline could put pay to any title challenge before it has even begun.
Valencia is no full-back, that is clear, while the fact that Matteo Darmian is below a winger in the pecking order says a great deal about his stock at Old Trafford.
Luke Shaw’s return will feel like a new signing, but should he pick up another injury, which is feasible after so long on the sidelines, there is little other cover than the young guns blooded by Van Gaal last season.
The middle is where United look especially thin on the ground. Phil Jones is a resident in the treatment room, Blind is out of position, Smalling suffers his fair share of knocks, while Bailly is new to the Premier League, and may take time to settle.
Yes there are some talented youngsters eager to please, but we all know what Mourinho thinks of entrusting youth, and he is unlikely to change now.
Last season, United struggled for goals, but their defence looked rather suspect on numerous occasions, especially when up against real quality opposition.
Arsenal blew a meek United away at the Emirates, Tottenham exposed naivety at White Hart Lane, while inability to defend set pieces cost United dear at West Ham, when chasing that elusive fourth Champions League spot.
With so many young faces at the back, an experienced head would do wonders for the knowhow of the back four, and take some of the pressure off Smalling’s shoulders, as he has emerged as the only qualified leader among out-of-position stopgaps.
The Portuguese insisted ahead of Sunday’s start-of-season Community Shield that he plans to have his squad sorted by August 14. At least one defensive addition must surely be in the pipeline.
United do have a much more menacing look to them, with a front four that are the envy of many teams across the continent.
Yet, with the quality of the Premier League much improved thanks to the added TV revenues, overlooking a mediocre defensive squad could prove costly.
Mourinho is notorious for being a man with the plan – now is not the time to go without. One addition is all it would take.
Sticking with what he has may be an un-Mourinho-like gamble too far. United are improving, Jose, finish the job.
