Enzo Fernández was furious in face to face with Mason Mount yesterday: “This is Chelsea, you c*nt!”, told former Blues midfielder
It has been quite a while since Manchester United managed to limit their opponents to fewer than 16 shots in a game.
The last time this happened was during the FA Cup third round victory over Wigan Athletic at the beginning of 2024, which was a remarkable 14 matches ago.
To find the previous occasion they allowed fewer than 20 efforts on goal, you have to go back five weeks and six fixtures to the 1-0 away win over Nottingham Forest.
In the last five matches, United have faced an incredible 134 shots, and it’s quite remarkable that only 11 of them have resulted in goals. There are multiple factors contributing to the leakage.
A constantly shifting defensive lineup due to the numerous injuries this season has been quite a challenge. Raphael Varane and later substitute Jonny Evans both had to leave the game against Chelsea due to injuries, leaving only two fully fit center-backs.
Luke Shaw has been absent for more matches than he has participated in this season, while Tyrell Malacia has been unable to play at all due to a serious knee injury.
Meanwhile, pivot Casemiro – who is now also dealing with an injury – has had a disappointing season, while 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo has often been left to handle things on his own.
That does not absolve Erik ten Hag of responsibility. The arrival of the Dutchman was met with the label of being a pragmatist, a characteristic that he has demonstrated in various aspects, except when it comes to his performance on the field. Interestingly, Ten Hag has expressed a lack of concern regarding the frequency of shots his team is conceding to the opposing side.
He dismissed any defensive issues his team may have, calling it ridiculous after the game on Thursday. “Our defensive performance was impressive, with our team ranking fourth in goals conceded.
The communication between players was excellent, and our solid defense, along with our talented goalkeeper, contributed to our success. I am satisfied with our collective effort and cannot find any fault in our performance.”
During his press conference, he highlighted specific mistakes, emphasizing the importance of proper defense and the need to make better decisions. And when mistakes are made, it can be quite frustrating, especially if you’re otherwise having a strong performance.
