Manchester United’s defense has been the most unstable on the pitch this season, as evidenced by the statistics. Seven defenders have accumulated over 213,000 minutes of playing time this season, excluding Lisandro Martinez. If Martinez can stay healthy, he is expected to reach that milestone by the end of May. Meanwhile, four central defenders have played between 1,274 and 2,010 minutes, but none of them are among the top seven players with the most playing time this season. This fact reflects an interesting narrative. Many clubs prioritize having a center-back as one of their top players due to the stability it brings to the team. William Saliba and Gabriel are leading in terms of minutes played for Arsenal. Virgil van Dijk is the highest-ranking center-back for Liverpool, while Ruben Dias holds the fifth spot for Manchester City. However, Raphael Varane, who is the most frequently utilized center-back for United, has played 800 more minutes than Dias. Additionally, United’s two transfer deadline days could provide them with a much-needed financial lifeline. United is on the verge of witnessing their ideal midfield in action. It is difficult to determine Erik ten Hag’s preferred defensive line. Predicting the summer is made even more difficult by the uncertainty surrounding the defense, particularly in the center. Only Martinez is certain to stay at the club as a center-back. Ten Hag has attributed United’s defensive problems this season to constantly rotating the backline, making it difficult to establish a consistent defense. He stated in January that they have had to switch up the defense every game.
