But on the back of United’s weekend showing against Fiorentina at Old Trafford, a problem not even Baleba would be able to fix reared its ugly head once again. It came in the first half when the Serie A outfit stunned a packed-out Old Trafford by taking the lead from a corner kick.
Looking back, it was the sort of goal that wouldn’t look out of place in a Sunday league match. Big punt to the back post, defenders going AWOL and an unmarked attacker on hand to tap home from close range. Not exactly the sort of thing that instils confidence in supporters just a week before the start of the new Premier League campaign.
Especially considering set-piece specialists Arsenal are the visitors to Old Trafford on opening day, but it exposes a bigger problem for Amorim. Looking across the United backline, where are the out-and-out leaders? The organisers? The defensive general?
You could certainly make the case that Harry Maguire fills that role, but well into his 30s and with one year left on his contract, is the Englishman going to feature that much for United this season? If the answer is no, then United could be left scratching around at the back.
It’s not that United’s centre-backs are low on quality. Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt are wonderful ball players, while Lisandro Martinez is famed for his tough-tackling ability. But sometimes it’s the intangibles that separate a good defence from a great one. Right now, Maguire aside, it doesn’t look as if Amorim’s squad has that within them.
It’s the sort of thing that Ruben Dias has excelled at during Manchester City’s recent period of dominance, or going a little further back, John Terry during Chelsea’s golden era. Adding a defender who can sense danger, while being available for selection week in week out, could prove more transformative for United than any attacker or midfielder this summer.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk