Will Man Utd’s terrible defensive record this season cost Solskjaer his job?
Manchester United's problems continued on Saturday with another dismal display in a 4-1 defeat at Watford in the Premier League.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's time at the club continues to hang by a thread as the club continue to ship goals and fall behind Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Signings like Jadon Sancho have failed to live up to the big-billing that followed his transfer to Old Trafford but is it time to focus on United's inability to stop leaking goals?
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Raphael Varane arrived in the summer but has been plagued with multiple injuries and only started six Premier League matches.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof started the game at Vicarage Road and fans are still scratching their heads trying to figure out who is the best defensive pairing.
Maguire was sent-off against Watford and was a mainstay at the Old Trafford defence last season and it was hoped it would be a Maguire/Varane partnership this year.
Here FootballTransfers looks at if the defensive record is about to cost Solskjaer his job.
Season 2020/21 defensive record
Solskjaer has bought himself the time he now has in the job thanks to guiding United to a surprising second-place finish last season behind runaway leaders Man City.
And last term United conceded 44 goals across the 38-match campaign.
That was more than third-placed Liverpool and Chelsea in fourth.
But they countered this with 73 goals, second behind City who netted 83.
They won three and lost three of their Champions League matches in Group H, losing nine goals in the process.
📸 - Maguire, the man who put his fingers in his ears after scoring vs Andorra one week ago, once again let's his team down and has to go off with a red card. pic.twitter.com/xNA4EQyphP
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) November 20, 2021
Season 2021/22 defensive record
The same firepower hasn't rescued United this term.
So far they've let 21 goals in the league, more than Southampton, Brentford, Leeds, Spurs and Everton.
That includes a 5-0 drubbing at home to Liverpool as well as a humbling to Manchester City.
In the Champions League, they have shipped seven goals in four matches but still sit top of their group.
Will defence cost him his job?
Solskjaer has managed Manchester United on 168 occasions, losing 198 goals in his 41 defeats.
The signing of Harry Maguire for £80 million after a good World Cup and some decent form with Leicester City raised eyeballs at the time.
But Maguire was made captain and has had some decent spells at Old Trafford but he isn't the answer.
He was at fault for goals against Liverpool and City and has been taking criticism from fans for his recent displays.
Varane should be a fine addition if he can steer clear of injuries and get a run in the team.
United should be looking to build a team around Varane and should a new manager such as Zinedine Zidane or Brendan Rodgers come in for January don't be surprised if the first transfer is an established centre-half.
Read more about: UEFA Champions League, Premier League, Man Utd, Harry Maguire, Raphaël Varane, Victor Lindelof
