The Manchester United defense is watering down and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can’t stop receiving bad news. Although everything seemed to have calmed down after the win that the Red Devils endorsed Tottenham 0-3, everything was again in evidence against Atalanta in the Champions League. In Italy, Manchester United conceded two goals, were vulnerable in their area, went back to using a three-center scheme … and were forced to back down during the match because Raphael Varane suffered a muscle injury that prevented him from continuing. The Frenchman could not finish the match and his time off is unknown.: “I didn’t want to take risks, the first diagnosis does not look good but we will analyze it again tomorrow “, explained the Norwegian coach, who in addition to Varane also could not count on Lindelöf against Atalanta, another defense on the side due to physical problems. Now, L’Equipe estimates a loss of between three and four weeks due to his hamstring problems The club did not want to set a date.
Varane’s is the third time that the central defender has dropped, after having overcome Covid-19 and another injury at the beginning of the season. Your partner with Maguire has not been able to solidify due to the lack of minutes, although neither has Lindelöf and the English defender, who have been together for many months. Without going any further, Maguire has been the most criticized in recent months for his poor start to the season, especially after the fateful duel against Liverpool at Old Trafford (0-5).
Manchester United have only managed to finish two games this season without conceding goals: less than a week ago against Tottenham (0-3) and in August against Wolverhampton (0-1). Or, what is the same, whenever they play at home they end up receiving, and that is not much less good news three days after receiving Manchester City.
Furthermore, the last two games have unveiled a new tactical plan for Solskjaer. In both the duel against Tottenham and Atalanta, Manchester United lined up a defense of three centrals along with two wingers (Shaw and Wan-Bissaka). The problem has been that of the first line of three -Lindelöf, Varane, Maguire- Lindelöf was injured and of the second -Bailly, Varane, Maguire- Varane has been injured, so the troops begin to shine by their absence. The fifth central was Tuanzebe, but he was loaned to Aston Villa, and the sixth is Phil Jones, who has not played an official match with the first team for two years. The only positive note has been the good role offered by Bailly in Bergamo and that David De Gea has been the savior in the worst moments of this course, although precisely the Spanish also failed in the clash against Atalanta.