Manchester United’s fragility at the back has been a notorious issue this season, and Erik ten Hag is frantically looking at what must be done to improve matters.
The Red Devils have overseen their worst start to a campaign in 34 years; six losses sustained in 10 matches and 18 goals conceded since the beginning of the term. Cause for concern.
Andre Onana is still adapting to life between the sticks at Old Trafford after David de Gea filled the role for 12 years, and it’s not been an easy adjustment for the Cameroonian.
What hasn’t helped matters for him though, is that injuries across the squad have meant that the backline in front of him has been frequently rotated each week.
Either way, the defensive unit has to start working in harmony to prevent the opposition from feeding off of their unstableness.
Ten Hag reflects
Ten Hag had his say on the issue in his press conference on Friday afternoon, saying: “This is what we were just talking about over the last few days about communication. Of course, the routines that you make when every game changes, the routines are a little bit less. 99 per cent [of the time] in top football, if you make mistakes, a top team will punish you.
“We have talked about how we need to be on the same page, we need communication in such moments and that we are organised. Then it is about the player and the willingness to be in the right spot and make the right decisions in the moment.”
🗣️ “We need to be on the same page, we need communication in such moments that we are well organised and then it’s about the players and the willingness.”
Erik ten Hag on what he can do to stop Manchester United conceding so many goals. pic.twitter.com/aE0FSbLg5b
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 6, 2023
Footage courtesy of Football Daily.
