Time is right to give Mengi his big chance
YOUNGSTER COULD BE KEY TO CENTRE-BACK PROBLEMS
THERE was a mixture of feelings for United fans as their side overcame a lively encounter against a resilient Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side struck five goals past their struggling opponents, but the fine attacking football couldn’t totally mask the dire defensive work at the other end.
Even from the first couple of minutes it was clear something wasn’t right as David de Gea’s short goal kicks invited attacking pressure and saw United set the tone for a nervous defensive display.
Mason Greenwood’s heroics soon shadowed the early errors from Harry Maguire and De Gea which had gifted United’s opponents the lead, but even after the win there could be no ignoring the vulnerability which had been alarmingly exposed.
“They definitely need to add a centre-back,” Rio Ferdinand stated after the win. “Harry Magurie needs someone blessed with pace alongside him.”
Victor Lindelof’s withdrawal at half-time through a back injury only further amplified the concerns with Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones both sidelined, while it only took a matter of minutes for his replacement Eric Bailly to concede an unfortunate penalty.
Having spent £80m on acquiring Maguire from Leicester last summer, it is clear United will look to build their newlook defence around him, even if he was suspect in the weekend win.
Despite a poor display, the new club captain has steadily performed this year and it would be hugely unfair to forget just how improved the defence has been since that home defeat to Burnley back in January.
However, the comments from Ferdinand raise an interesting point at how they can establish a new defensive partnership which is as formidable as his own with Nemanja Vidic.
In an ideal world it would be Tuanzebe who partners Maguire for his trip to face former side Aston Villa on Thursday, but with the charismatic young defender out for the rest of the season through injury, there could be an unlikely opportunity for academy star Teden Mengi to be involved. United’s Under-18 captain started 14 times for the Under-23s this season and has skippered the academy in the FA Youth Cup ties.
The Mancunian was due to have a summer off from Carrington but was desperate to join in with the senior squad and has since been rewarded with a promotion.
“Axel and Phil are injured, so that’s two centre-backs down for
They need a centreback, Harry Maguire needs someone blessed with pace alongside him Rio Ferdinand
us,” Solskjaer explained at his press conference last week. “Chris [Smalling] is on loan and [Marcos] Rojo is on loan, so it was natural for me to put Teden in.
“One, for his own benefit because to have a few months training now tests him and he’s deserved it.
“He’s an exciting talent and was desperate to come in.
“He keeps in touch with the coaches and he was always ready when we asked him. ‘Are you ready, are you fit enough?’
“He worked hard over the lockdown and he’s done really well. He doesn’t seem out of place so he’ll definitely be more in and around the first-team next season.”
Mengi is yet to make his first-team debut despite travelling to Astana for the Europa League fixture last November, but with Lindelof the latest to suffer an injury, his chance could be just around the corner.
It took a sliding doors moment for Marcus Rashford to get his firstteam break at the expense of Will Keane four years ago under Louis van Gaal and soon it could be Mengi who prospers in the absence of Tuanzebe from the first-team.
Expectations will need to be realistic if the teenager does get a chance to prove himself in the next few weeks, but a strong showing could bring the best out of Maguire and in turn prove to be the answer to United’s latest transfer conundrum.