Gary Neville has slammed Manchester United’s defending against Crystal Palace, labelling Victor Lindelof ‘weak’, and says the club must sign a new, pacey centre-back as soon as possible.
The Red Devils made a dreadful start to the new Premier League season, with Palace taking an early lead through Andros Townsend at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.
A controversial penalty, and retake, saw Wilfried Zaha double the lead and, despite substitute Donny van de Beek getting one back, added a third for Palace late on to seal a 3-1 victory.
Palace’s rapid attack looked devastating on the counter but Neville was appalled by the defending and does not believes a partnership of Lindelof and Harry Maguire is quick enough, claiming they have no chance of winning the title unless they bring in someone new.
‘One of the areas that Manchester United are going to try and strengthen is centre-back and it has to be a quick one. Someone who can defend one-on-one,’ said Neville during commentary for Sky Sports.
‘[Jordan] Ayew and Zaha will fancy it against Lindelof and Maguire one-on-one. But you look through all the best centre-back partnerships down the years, they’ve always had a quick one in amongst them.’
‘He’s got them exactly where he wants them. He’s just not strong enough there Lindelof. It’s a 50/50. It’s weak!
‘You can talk about Jadon Sancho all you like, but until they get a centre-back in who can run and defend one-on-one, you’re never going to win a league.
‘They’re not going to win the league with that centre-back pairing. They have to get a mobile, quick, dominant centre-back in alongside Lindelof or Maguire. Their defending has been better since Christmas, no doubt, but you’re talking about going up a level.’
