Manchester United: Dawn of a New Era or Will Defensive Woes Halt Their Ascent?

Back-to-back victories over West Ham and Everton propelled Manchester United into the coveted Champions League spots for the first time this season. Fans went into the two-week international break with a sense of optimism and positivity that the Louis van Gaal revolution had steered the club away from another potentially ruinous campaign. Yet the club’s hierarchy will be under no illusion of the instability of United’s recent revival, with mouth-watering ties against Chelsea and Manchester City to be a more realistic test of their team's mettle.

Yet real vigour and intent have rightly descended upon Old Trafford with the summer inclusions of Daley Blind, Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw. Rich endorsement has followed from all ranks, but none more significant than the words of Sir Alex Ferguson, who has recently said of the transition, per United's official site: “they've brought in some good quality which is really important because you need quality at Manchester United, you need the best players.” Ferguson further admitted that the side he left behind needed big-money additions, stating, “Those are fees I never quite equalled but nonetheless they were needing quite a big injection this year.”

Despite heavy praise from such an irrefutable source, it remains plain to see that this United side is woefully imbalanced, relying heavily on their attacking prowess after their unforgivable failure to address the most obvious of defensive concerns. Firstly, £30 million signing Luke Shaw was worryingly declared unfit by the current manager, and was subsequently omitted from United’s first five team sheets of the season. Secondly, one would cite Van Gaal’s failure to bring in a centre-back of sufficient calibre to be a fundamental error; with the departure of commanding figures such as Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Era and Nemanja Vidic it appears almost inconceivable that no defender of a similar ilk was brought into a club purporting to be amongst the biggest in the world.

United’s defensive fragility has already been exposed in the most humiliating fashion, conceding five goals to newly promoted Leicester City, making it the first time that the club had lost a Premier League game after holding a two-goal lead. I look upon this encounter as a microcosm for how the club’s season will develop as a whole: attractively entertaining with the propensity for a defensive capitulation. And Van Gaal will be understandably concerned by the ease with which the Foxes dismantled his side.  United were dominant at spells with 57% possession of the ball, 16 shots with 5 being on target. Most interestingly, Leicester also managed 5 shots on target, yet managed to score five goals, due to the vulnerability of David de Gea, once the defence in front of him had been carved open. Such imbalances within key areas of the pitch have consequently left United without a home win this season.

I would therefore question the club’s "revival" and warn supporters to expect an exciting yet topsy-turvy campaign. Expect to score many goals, but accept that you will concede many, many more.

Mourinho and Pellegrini know they can ill-afford to allow the Manchester United rise to continue, and they will do everything in their power to halt them in their tracks. I expect two fiery and tactical jousts whereby current league-leaders Chelsea will be intent on suppressing United’s frail ascent.

Fans should be enthusiastic that their club have at least turned the corner, but be under no illusion of the rockier road which lies ahead.