After United beat relegation contender Norwich 3-2, Manchester United interim manager Ralph Lonnick expressed his disappointment with the team's defence. United scored two goals through Cristiano Ronaldo but were ultimately targeted by Kieran Dowell and Tim Pukee's swift back-to-back attacks at half-time and the team needed to rely on David De Gea's brilliant saves to stop them from falling behind. In the end, Ronaldo scored the last goal of the game, and his free-kick sealed a 3-2 victory, but after the game, Lonnick did not stop criticizing the team's defense.
"I told the team that our line-up was very offensive, with Pogba, Brunofer Nandez and Jesse Lingard in midfield," Lonnick began. "I think it's a very offensive formation and a squad, that's why I told them that it's very important that we play with a defensive mindset and everyone has to think like a defensive midfielder.
"If you look at the two goals we conceded, especially the first one, we had the ball on the sidelines, but we weren't physical enough. Once there is physical contact, we have to be more physical and more aggressive. But we weren't, and for me, we were too easy. We may be the only team in the league that concedes a goal like this.
"If I just think about the games since I came here, how many games we've had to lead 1-0 or 2-0 and only get one point at the end, it's easy to get six or eight points. But that brought us back to the same situation, we just didn't defend well enough. "If you want to have a proper defense in this league, every team has its own weapons on the pitch, you just have to defend. You have to be physically fit, and you shouldn't let them easily cross our lines of defense. That's where this team doesn't do well enough. He added: "The reason the club contacted me in November was because they conceded too many goals too easily. We've conceded fewer goals, but the way we defend is still not the standard we need. Top four clubs. ”
It was reported earlier this month that United are looking to sign a new centre-back this summer and have sent scouts to update reports about Villarreal's Paul Torres, the second choice before Rafael Varane joined the club last year. United will listen to offers from Eric Bailey and Phil Jones, who will not stop Victor Lindelof from leaving if the right offer comes.