Leicester City 5 Manchester United 3: What went wrong for Louis van Gaal’s defence in Premier League defeat?

After last weekend’s procession over Queens Park Rangers had been billed as a new dawn for Manchester United, Sunday’s shocking 5-3 defeat at Leicester City provided the ultimate reality check.

You look at them going forward and they look like the old United. There is pace in that side and there are lots of players who can score goals. But they are nowhere near good enough at the back. To spend that much money and not bring in a top-class defender, that is mismanagement.

Cruising at 3-1 in front in the 57th minute at the King Power Stadium, United would go on to blow a two-goal lead to suffer defeat for the first time in their 853-Premier League-game history.

United will point to a decision to award Leicester, last season’s Championship winners, the opportunity to begin their comeback from a debatable penalty, but there was much more to the story.

Louis van Gaal’s new-look United were boasting the attacking potency of Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria among others, after a summer of huge expenditure, to complement the existing offensive talents of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

However, following the summer departures of experienced defenders Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, United’s backline looked inexperienced, unfamiliar and susceptible even before they lost Jonny Evans to injury.

The summer signings of left-back Marcos Rojo and versatile deep-sitting midfielder Danny Blind were in the first XI at Leicester - while England’s young left-back, Luke Shaw, remained an unused substitute – but it made little difference.

So where did it go wrong for United at Leicester? What were the problems with their defence or diamond formation in the record-breaking loss? We use Opta data to analyse the displays, plus give you the chance to vote and have your say at the bottom of the page.

DAVID DE GEA
Age: 23
Position: Goalkeeper
Nationality: Spanish
History: £19m signing from Atletico Madrid in June 2011

Now into his third year with United, De Gea should really have the experience and confidence to be a dominant and vocal force in his club’s rear guard but he still looks uncertain. De Gea conceded five goals, two of which were penalties, and did not make a single save in the defeat by Leicester. The hosts scored with each of their five shots on target, which does not reflect well on De Gea. On the occasions United looked to go long against Leicester, De Gea’s distribution was also a disappointment with an accuracy of just 20 percent when passing into the opposition half. 

RAFAEL
Age: 22
Position: Right-back
Nationality: Brazilian
History: Signed from Fluminense in August 2008

Rafael remains a compulsive defender. The manner in which he gave away the admittedly debatable penalty for Leicester’s second goal perhaps epitomised his shortcomings after he reacted to having initially been involved in a collision with former non-league player Jamie Vardy. Rafael was the only United defender to block a shot but he lost possession on 14 occasions. Rafael was also perhaps guilty of pushing too far up field and leaving his defence exposed against the threat of Leicester in wide areas. But is this a consequence of Van Gaal’s diamond 4-1-2-1-2 formation which requires overlapping full-backs?

JONNY EVANS
Age: 26
Position: Centre-back
Nationality: Northern Irish
History: Joined United as a trainee in July 2006

Evans was the longest serving United player in the defence at Leicester and, at just 26 years old, was also the eldest. But he was forced off with another injury after half-an-hour and was seen with a leg in a supporting brace in the second half. Evans had only lost possession once in his time on the field and had made four clearances. United will probably be wondering what might have been if he had not suffered his injury but his ongoing fitness issues are perhaps just another reflection of the problems among Van Gaal’s defensive options.

TYLER BLACKETT
Age: 20
Position: Centre-back
Nationality: English
History: Joined United as a trainee in July 2013

Despite his inexperience, Mancunian Blackett had made a good start to the season but he had a miserable afternoon against Leicester. Left-footer Blackett’s presence is seen to give United’s defence some balance at the back, however, the way he clattered Vardy to give Leicester their second penalty smacked of his inexperience and resulted in him being sent off. Blackett attempted 10 clearances, more than any other United player, but the way he was dominated by the street-wise Vardy, particularly in failing to win an aerial duel when on the pitch, demonstrates he still has a lot to learn.

MARCOS ROJO
Age: 24
Position: Left-back
Nationality: Argentine
History: £16m signing from Sporting Lisbon in August 2014

Rojo was the only new signing in the defence and it was a display which showed he has only recently arrived in the Premier League. Like Rafael against the wide threat of Leicester, the South American – perhaps under Van Gaal’s instruction – was regularly too far up field. This was particularly the case when he overlapped Juan Mata, who was then dispossessed, in the build-up to Vardy’s goal. Rojo also lost possession on 20 occasions, more than any other United defender. 

CHRIS SMALLING
Age: 24
Position: Centre-back
Nationality: English
History: £10m signing from Fulham in July 2010

England international Smalling was brought on as a 30th minute replacement for the injured Evans and would go on to make 12 successful clearances, more than any other player on the pitch. Smalling also played 28 passes at 100% accuracy. There is no doubting his ability on the ball in those circumstances but does he have the presence to become a lynchpin of the United defence in the future?