Pranav Nair
Louis Saha sheds light on Manchester United defensive frailties
Speaking to Gentingbet (h/t Mirror), former Manchester United star Louis Saha has refused to pinpoint the club’s defensive frailties on any one player.
United have so far conceded 27 goals in 19 games across all competitions. It is a far cry from the defensive solidity we showcased in our heyday.
Saha has attributed this weakness to the lack of a cohesive system at the back rather than individual deficiencies.
“Harry Maguire is a good defender so I’m not going to blame him for the bad results and performances defensively.”
No player in the United backline has escaped criticism. The likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Luke Shaw have all seen their share of the blame.
“It’s a combination of mistakes from the backline and no one has been consistent to be responsible for all the mistakes.”
United put up their worst defensive showing of the season against Tottenham Hotspur where we conceded six goals. To add insult to injury, former boss Jose Mourinho was in charge of Tottenham that night.
With Eric Bailly struggling with injuries, Lindelof has often partnered Maguire in defence. Saha thinks this could be having a negative impact on the minds of their teammates.
Maguire should pull his weight!
“When you have a pair playing together, making mistakes is totally normal but you expect the other to cover for those mistakes.”
Saha also goes on to add that United need someone who actually reads the game and does the right thing. While he believes Maguire can prove to the difference-maker, the United skipper is yet to showcase it on a consistent basis.
“He (Maguire) was brought in to bring that confidence and that’s not always what he has done.”
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Saha went on to add that United’s lack of cohesiveness at the back also impacts their attack. With defending at the back of player’s mind, the players tend to hang back rather than surge forward.
The club has spent a fortune on assembling the backline and as of yet, we have not got our money’s worth. The players’ quality is well-known and it is now up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to transform them into a well-oiled machine.
