Blind Forging Career at the Heart of United's Defence

For all the criticisms directed at Louis van Gaal, one has to commend his ability to improve Manchester United’s defensive resilience. Chris Smalling has arguably been the club’s improved player since the Dutchman took over the Old Trafford reins back in 2014. The English centre-back’s WhoScored rating this season (7.20) is his second highest in the last seven Premier League campaigns, with his best coming in Van Gaal’s debut season in charge (7.34). 

Indeed, Smalling’s development has coincided with one of the league’s tightest defences. Only Sunday’s opponents Tottenham (25) have conceded fewer goals in England’s top tier this term than United (27) ahead of the weekend. It isn’t just the England international who warrants praise, though, with regular centre-back partner Daley Blind also deserving of the credit due the United defence. 

The Dutch utility man was a favourite of Van Gaal’s during the 2014 World Cup, with Blind playing a key role in the Netherlands’ three-man defensive system. While the United boss failed to implement a similar game plan in the Premier League, Van Gaal quickly identified the need for a more solid defensive base, with a four-man defence vital in United’s quest to re-establish themselves as England’s top team. Injuries and a lack of form from centre-backs, however, suggested the club needed to invest heavily at the back last summer. 

Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Mats Hummels, among others, were linked with a move to Old Trafford and when none arrived before the transfer window slammed shut, there was understandably panic among fans as to who would play at the back. Phil Jones made 22 league starts at centre-back last season, but his erratic approach and ongoing injury concerns suggested he wasn’t the long-term solution. 

Indeed, all United had to do was look within rather than spend big on a new centre-back to help improve the backline. Blind may have made just two league starts at the heart of the defence last season, but has appeared the seasoned pro in the position this term. His versatility could well have hindered his development – Blind played four different positions, most notably in midfield, last season – but Van Gaal has found a complimentary centre-back to partner Smalling this term. 

The way he marshaled Sergio Aguero and Romelu Lukaku, two of the Premier League’s better strikers, in recent wins over Manchester City and Everton, the former of which he was awarded the WhoScored man of the match award in, suggests that Van Gaal – should he of course remain in charge of the club beyond the summer – should continue to build his defence around Blind and Smalling. While the Netherlands international may not be blessed with pace, he makes up for that with his impressive reading of the game. 

Rather than be forced to track swift attackers or chase down the opposition, Blind instead relies on his mental fortitude to pre-emptively stifle attacks that would increase pressure on David De Gea’s goal. Indeed, Only Smalling (2.9) and Morgan Schneiderlin (2.6) are averaging more interceptions of all United regulars than Blind (2.5) this season. Meanwhile, of all Premier League centre-backs, only City’s Nicolas Otamendi (3.3) is making more tackles per game than the 26-year-old (2.8), accentuating WhoScored strengths of both ‘ball interception’ and ‘tackling’. 

While tackling should perhaps only be a last resort for a defender, Blind does what is required of him in order to prevent United from conceding. To match his commendable reading of the game, the Dutch defender is more than capable of playing the ball out from the back to help instigate attacks from defence, matching Van Gaal’s game plan and helping become a more rounded centre-back in the process. 

His time in midfield last season clearly served him well in that regard, with only Cesc Fabregas (928) playing more forward passes of outfielders in the Premier League this season than Blind (748). While United have become unwelcomingly renowned for their stagnant approach, Blind isn’t one who will simply pass to his left or right for the sake of retaining possession. Granted, his passes forward may not be probing through balls akin to a deep lying playmaker, but he’s helping apply pressure on the opposition defence and maintain control, thus limiting the opposition’s chances of scoring. 

As he proved against Aguero and Lukaku, Blind is not fazed at the challenge awaiting him from some of the Premier League’s top frontmen. Of course, he will face his toughest test of the campaign at White Hart Lane on Sunday when he goes up against the league’s top goalscorer Harry Kane (22 goals). While the top scorers in England’s top tier Tottenham (57 goals) haven’t beaten United in a league match on home turf since a Willem Korsten brace and a Les Ferdinand strike wrapped up all three points for Spurs back in 2001, United come into this encounter as underdogs to secure victory. 

However, with Blind going from strength-to-strength in the Premier League at the heart of United’s defence, the visitors stand a much stronger chance of upsetting the odds in the capital.

Do you think Blind's long-term future at United is at centre-back? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below