Burnley manager Vincent Kompany called Manchester United "a wounded giant" as he regretted his side's inability to find a way past the Reds' defence on Saturday night.
Manchester United's biggest problem has been five years in the making
04.09.2023 - 06:01 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans walking off the Emirates Stadium turf dejected, a 1-0 lead becoming a 3-1 defeat to leave their side in mid-table while Arsenal moved to within two points of leaders Manchester City.
Sounds familiar, and it will to the United pair given it also describes a game for Leicester City against the Gunners in 2018. On that occasion the Foxes were also level at the break before falling to defeat with Maguire and Evans together at the back.
And there is the problem United have. This is a defensive pairing who were playing for a mid-table side five years ago. It's no huge surprise they are not good enough for the Reds in 2023.
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They started together on that October evening and while they only played 14 minutes together at the heart of the backline on Sunday due to Raphael Varane's injury-enforced absence and Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof both picking up knocks during the game, the point stands.
Evans is added security, a veteran defender available and cheap to be on hand if needs must. As Roy Keane said on Sky Sports after the weekend defeat, he was deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford eight years ago so was never going to be a solution now.
He brings experience and a mentality to the club and will no doubt be an asset off the pitch but on it he cannot be expected to command any kind of regular spot. Ten Hag will not have expected three of his centre-backs to collect injuries in the space of just over a week, while last season's capable stand-in Luke Shaw is also sidelined.
It is exceptional circumstances and this United squad isn't equipped to deal with the everyday occurrences just
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