In his post match interview after the derby Louis Van Gaal once more suggested, to the amazement of many, that his much maligned defence is not the issue.
Some think he’s just protecting his players. But this talk of the defence being a shambles is very short sighted. How can you really tell how good a defence is when they never play together?
By the end of the game on Sunday Manchester United were without their FOUR first choice centre backs and their first choice right back.
Take Cahill, Terry, Zouma and Ivanovic out of the Chelsea side through injury. Kompany, Mangala, Demichelis and Zabaleta from City. You wouldn’t then start saying that their defences are rubbish. You’d say they were crippled by injury.
That’s why it’s unfair to start writing United’s defence off. Smalling committed a stupid error on Sunday but had a blinder against Chelsea.
Rafael da Silva is having an increasingly impressive season. He seems to be benefitting from the presence of Louis. By the end of next season he will be regarded as one of the best right backs in the league.
Rojo is also improving weekly and is really starting to look like a Premier League centre back. He was rash in the challenge that got him injured but he’s generally quick, strong in the tackle and a good passer.
And we have said many times already that Luke Shaw is going to be one of the best. We just love watching him play. Meanwhile Paddy McNair has been a revelation and Carrick was brilliant when he came on in defence at the weekend.
When you consider that Jones and Evans – possibly United’s best centre back pairing – haven’t been able to get on the park, then you surely have to temper any judgement of the defence.
Fergie always said that you need a settled defence. Manchester United haven’t been able to pick one and, until then, we should reserve judgement about the back line.
