A defence fit for purpose is key issue for Alex Ferguson and Manchester United

By SIMON STONE
Published on 19/09/2012 02:41

Sir Alex Ferguson acknowledges a settled defence will be crucial for Manchester United in Europe this season. The memory of last year’s embarrassing group stage exit was fresh enough for Ferguson to leave Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa out of his starting line-up for the weekend win over Wigan.

Both should be involved against Galatasaray at Old Trafford tonight, providing the firepower to shoot United to victory in the first game of their latest Champions League quest. However, it is at the back Ferguson knows his side must improve.

United have rarely been able to field a regular defence in a three-season period of home group games on home soil that has featured just three wins. Already this term, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have been ruled out for extended periods, forcing Michael Carrick to play as an emergency central defender.

“At the moment with Smalling and Jones long-term, I’m left with three centre-backs, [Nemanja] Vidic, [Rio] Ferdinand and [Jonny] Evans,” said the United manager. “If I was guaranteed two of those being fit for the rest of the season I’d take that right now. It’s not been the case in the last two or three years, when we have had a really rough ride. I’ve had to alternate centre-backs. That’s a key issue.”

The situation is not helped by a goalkeeping power battle between Anders Lindegaard and David de Gea. Lindegaard was selected against Wigan and, although De Gea may return tonight, the odds must be against him retaining his place for Sunday’s trip to Liverpool, where he was blamed for United’s FA Cup exit last term.