Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United, looks on during the UEFA Champions League group game against Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, September 20, 2023. /CFP
Manchester United have had a very disappointing start to the 2023-24 season, with the club conceding 14 goals in six games, including five Premier League games and one in the UEFA Champions League.
As the club's manager, Erik ten Hag seemed to have no explanation for their defensive struggle. When he was asked if there's any reason behind United's poor defense at a press conference on Friday, he said "no."
"When you are in a period like we are in you always as a manager you are asking yourself these questions," Ten Hag said. "My job is to get them to do the job. You can see if we bounced back like we did in Munich you can't say the spirit isn't right. I think we have other problems than that."
Casemiro (L) of Manchester United competes for the ball with Adam Lallana of Brighton & Hove Albion in a Premier League game at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, September 16, 2023. /CFP
United kept 17 clean sheets during the 2022-23 Premier League campaign, more than any other team. By contrast, they have only managed to get one clean sheet so far this season, in the 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the season opener. Since then, the "Red Devils" have conceded at least two goals in each of the other five games.
"As a manager you have many tools and I make sure I use them," Ten Hag said. "I will not say all because there are many ways to do it. You have to be creative, you have to be innovative, but you can be sure I use many. You do it in groups, in team, individually, you do it over video, you do it in personal talks. You have many tools to coach, to make sure the team is in the right direction."
Ten Hag started two defensive midfielders in four of United's games so far. Casemiro was there on all those four occasions. He first paired with Mason Mount and then with Christian Eriksen in the other three games. Casemiro hasn't been very consistent with his performances this season. Eriksen and Mount have not really been known for playing in holding midfield.
Bruno Fernandes (L) of Manchester United competes for the ball with Kingsley Coman of Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League group game at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, September 20, 2023. /CFP
What's even more problematic are United's attacking midfielders and forwards. Bruno Fernandes doesn't contribute much to defense, and neither does Marcus Rashford. In midfield, questions have often been raised about Scott McTominay's defensive positional sense. Such a group of players have done too little to thwart the opponents' offense this season.
As a result, United's opponents have often breached their midfield quickly and easily, facing the back line and the goalkeeper, who have basically ended up being sitting ducks, not to mention that goalkeeper Andre Onana has committed a string of errors since joining the club this summer.
"I am pushing the team and demanding from the team at the start of the season, but they are human beings, not robots so why they are not doing it, I try to find out and I try to get and give the solutions and try to motivate the players to do the job," Ten Hag said at the press conference.