Alan Pardew says Manchester United’s failure to bolster their defence last summer has left the club with an enormous ‘problem’ and ‘no foundation to construct on’.
There was a renewed sense of optimism at Old Trafford as United bosses overhauled their misfiring attack with the addition of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
But while all three forwards have shown glimpses of their undoubted quality, the Red Devils find themselves in crisis and managerless once more, with Ruben Amorim relieved of his duties following a wretched run of results.
Darren Fletcher took over from Amorim with a view to steadying the ship earlier this month, nevertheless it’s proven a difficult start for the Scot, who’s yet to win as caretaker manager.
4 days after being held to a 2-2 draw to Premier League strugglers Burnley, Fletcher’s men crashed out of the FA Cup by the hands of Brighton – with ex-United striker Danny Welbeck scoring what proved to be the winner on the Theatre of Dreams.
Though a final decision is yet to be made, Michael Carrick has reportedly jumped ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer because the frontrunner to take over the reins from Fletcher until the top of the season.
Discussing United’s troubles on talkSPORT, Pardew argued a brand new manager was unlikely to give you the chance to seek out any quick fixes given the shortage of ‘balance’ and ‘cohesion’ within the squad.
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In response to the ex-Newcastle and Crystal Palace boss, the Red Devils were naive in overlooking potential defensive signings after they had the possibility to strengthen six months ago.
‘Before everything, you’ve got to have a playing staff that warrants wearing that jersey,’ Pardew said.
‘Once I have a look at that Manchester United team, particularly on the back, there’s no foundation, for me, to construct on, when it comes to a backline where you possibly can be solid.
‘If I even have a look at Spurs’ back 4, I feel Spurs’ back 4 is best than Manchester United’s, any defence they will put out, whoever is fit. That’s an issue which they didn’t address last summer.’
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Pardew continued: ‘At the highest of the pitch, they addressed that a bit of bit. Obviously, Matheus Cunha, who I assumed was disappointing against Brighton, Bryan Mbeumo who’s currently away [at AFCON] but he’ll come back.
‘I assumed Benjamin Sesko was okay today. I assumed he did some nice things, he took a few early strikes but there’s still a lot to do behind the front three, though.
‘The midfield, the back 4, the goalkeeper in just just finding his feet. There’s a number of problems for whoever the manager is, whether it’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Darren Fletcher, Ruben Amorim if he’d have stayed.
‘There’s a number of problems in that squad when it comes to balance, cohesion and fight.’
Pardew feels United can be making a ‘decent’ selection should they put Carrick in charge on an interim basis.
‘Who’s the following manager going to be? Is it going to be Solskjaer who we all know they paid up, left the football club,’ he said.
‘Or is it going to be Michael Carrick? For my part, I feel he can be a good selection.
‘But what’s going to be the transient until the top of the yr? Because we’re talking about Manchester United.’
Pardew went on: ‘I genuinely feel sorry for Manchester United fans.
‘Dan Ashworth got here in, they headhunted him and he was going to be the person who was going to place a plan together for this football club to take forward which he did at England and Newcastle.
‘After which he went, he was cut away around when Ruben Amorim got here. So you possibly can put two and two together there.’
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