The Manchester United defence has been under fire recently but Paul Merson believes that right now, even Paolo Maldini would struggle.
Over the past few months in particular, Manchester United have been facing an unprecedented amount of shots which has in turn left whoever is playing in defence, looking below par.
Andre Onana has kept United from being embarrassed on multiple occasions, but he can’t do it all alone and right now he’s having to due to the midfield effectively leaving the defence on its own.
It’s been a poor strategy and highlighted where Erik ten Hag absolutely has to improve next season. Now though, Paul Merson has explained just how bad the situation is at Old Trafford.
Paul Merson says even Paolo Maldini wouldn’t be able to help Manchester United
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday’s end-of-season awards, Merson was explaining why he’d named Declan Rice as his player of the year.
He used United as his reasoning, explaining that without a competent defensive midfielder, even the best defenders will look hopeless.
“We all go on about [William] Saliba and we go on about Gabriel, but if you ain’t got that holding midfield player,” Merson explained.
“I don’t care how good your centre-half are, because I played in an era where [Franco] Baresi, [Alessandro] Costacurta and [Paolo] Maldini were playing.
“But if you put them at Man United this season with no protection, they would have got ripped to shreds, absolutely ripped to shreds.”
Maldini, Baresi and Costacurta of course are three of the best centre-backs in history and this says a lot about just how exposed the midfield at United has left the defence and how unfair criticism of Casemiro has been over the past few weeks.
It also shows just how important it is that United sign a holding midfielder this summer, it could be the most important move of the window.
The priority this summer should be clear for Ineos
Ineos will have a long list of positions they want to strengthen this summer, but signing a talented holding midfielder role could be the real game-changing move.
We’ve since over the last three games the difference Sofyan Amrabat has made, with the rut of winning once in 10-plus games being halted, although he’s simply not good enough to be starting for United.
This is why a new number one in the position is vital this summer and could completely change the fortunes of the team over the next few months as the club gears up for the 2024-25 season.
It will be interesting to see who United bring in with several options around Europe linked, including Joao Neves, but one thing is for sure and that’s that it’s somewhere that has to be improved, otherwise, next season could be another shambles.
There’s no point strengthening the defence until the holding midfielder is sorted.