When Jose Mourinho stated he needed another expensive centre-back during the offseason, eyes rolled. Since arriving at Old Trafford, Mourinho has added to his centre-back stable. The manager bought Eric Bailly in 2016 for £30m.
Yet, Bailly has failed to hold down a starting position due to form and injuries. Victor Lindelof arrived in 2017 for £30m from Benfica. But like Bailly, the Swedish centre-back has lacked form. Mourinho okayed the signings of Bailly and Lindelof, which either shows he scouted poorly or neither player is up to the rigours of the Premier League. Or, perhaps it is a little of both.
Mourinho inherited Chris Smalling and Phil Jones at Old Trafford. Both centre-backs cost Manchester United significant sums when they were signed. Jones, who impressed while playing for Blackburn Rovers as a youngster, joined Manchester United for £17.4 million. Smalling cost £7.2m from Fulham. Both will be out of contract in the summer and Manchester United could see both walk away for free.
Regardless of the spending thus far, Manchester United’s defence is bad and having a midfield that is unable to break up play is exposing their central defenders. Manchester United have kept just one clean sheet in 12 matches. That shut out came at Burnley as the Red Devils won 2-0. Manchester United have allowed 21 goals while scoring just 20. Unbelievably, Mourinho’s team has given up the fifth most goals after 12 games. It is a stat few supporters would have thought possible despite Mourinho’s constant pleading for another centre-back.
Away from home, Manchester United have been vulnerable. They have lost at Brighton, West Ham, and Manchester City, while also drawing at Chelsea. The latter fixture was one in which the Red Devils defence threw away a late lead. In four of their seven away matches, Manchester United have been losing at halftime. Three of those games ended in losses while the fourth was their draw with Chelsea.
Manchester United have allowed nearly equal scoring in both halves. They have conceded 10 goals in the first half with 11 coming in the second. The Red Devils defence doesn’t start well in games, conceding five times in the first 15 minutes as opposed to six times in the rest of the first half. Late goals have also been a problem with five coming in the final quarter of an hour.
Mourinho was right about Manchester United needing further defensive players to strengthen the team. But his haphazard spending in his first two seasons has left club executives unwilling to buy more players. The club has every right to deny Mourinho further funds. The manager has demanded players and for the most part got his wish. He needs to coach them and prepare them rather than toss players to the side when they don’t succeed. Manchester United’s defensive woes are, for the most part, Mourinho’s making.
The manager is said to have a £100m budget for January, but the Red Devils must decide on what to do with expiring contracts and players Mourinho has frozen out first. Then, perhaps the Red Devils will spend money far more wisely than in previous transfer windows.