MAYBE this defence of Manchester United’s is not that bad after all.
It was the lack of a centre-back purchase that so angered United fans in the last transfer window.
Man Utd transfer target Dayot Upamecano, left, failed to impress at Old Trafford as RB Leipzig were thumped 5-0Credit: The Mega Agency
Anger that grew after conceding 11 goals in their first three league games.
Still this was a defensive unit last season whose 36 league goals against was were bettered only by Manchester City with 35 and Champions Liverpool with 33.
They also notched up the most clean sheets of any club in the top five European leagues in all competitions.
The back four of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Victory Lindelof and Luke Shaw was looking like a strong unit in the clubs run to third place and three Cup semi-finals.
Still people always remember the games that went wrong, not least at the start of this season.
The 6-1 defeat to Spurs was unforgiveable but there were reasons for United’s shaky start.
They only had a 34 day break between the end of last season and beginning of this and a week’s training together .
Maguire back with his arrest in Mykonos still on his mind. But the ship has been steadied.
They only two goals they have conceded in their last four games against Newcastle and PSG were unfortunate own goals.
In Paris of Axel Tuanzebe since December 2019 reminded people what United already have in their squad.
Another academy product he was brilliant up against one of Europe’s most feared forward lines most notably in silencing the prolific Kylian Mbappe, scorer of 90 goals in the last three seasons. He is most definitely a star of the future.
So having handled the best team in France and kept a clean sheet against Chelsea, last night it was the current Bundesliga leaders and the defence was exceptional again not least Luke Shaw.
To think this was the night when Dayot Upamenco was going to showcase his abilities right in front of the man tipped to buy him.
Ole Solskjaer said he was looking forward to getting an up close view of Upamenco when RB Leipzig took on his United side.
He diplomatically batted off stories of him wanting to trigger the central defender’s release £38million release clause at the end of this season.
But there is no doubt the interest is there and why not with the French international attracting interest from around Europe.
This perhaps was not the night the 22-year-old had in mind.
He is a player with the lot, a presence, a reading of the game and a calmness on the ball when pressed. He can pick a pass too.
Last night he could not cope with United’s attacking threat. Note his part in United’s opening goal.
Looking over his shoulder he spotted Mason Greenwood’s darting run behind him but simply could not match it, nor reach the fine through ball from Paul Pogba for the 21st minute goal.
Later in the game he was part of a back four picked apart as United excelled once more in Group H. United up and running and defending.
Solskjaer looking forward to seeing Man Utd transfer target Dayot Upamecano ‘close up’ in RB Leipzig clash
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
