Having already conceded 10 Premier League goals in seven matches, Manchester United are targeting a solution for their defensive woes: Another winger. Per the Daily Star (via Goal Transfer Talk), the club will "look to bring in Fiorentina's Juan Cuadrado as it looks to bolster its options for width."
The move is pending Dani Alves' decision to stay with Barcelona next season. The right-back is also said to be on the club's shortlist for reinforcements.
But having conceded the seventh-most goals in England, neither move would suffice in curing United's defensive ailments. Just don't tell that to manager Louis van Gaal. According to the Dutchman's philosophy, defensive organization begins at the forward position. "I want my defensive organization to be better, but the defense begins in the striker's position," he said (via the Guardian). "It's teamwork."
"So when we concede a goal, it's not only because of an individual error from the defense," he added. "It starts somewhere else and that is what we have to analyze and improve."
"All the teams are mostly scoring goals out of counterattacks against us and free-kicks and corners, not that they make their goals like we do—out of building up, first, second, third and fourth phase. That's the difference and when you want to be a big team, you have to perform like that. You must dominate the game."
Adding an additional winger, however, isn't the first step toward dominating the game. A club starving for defensive prowess in the central part of the pitch would be better suited targeting Bruno Martins Indi and Mats Hummels instead.
Attempting to outscore your opponents 5-3 isn't a recipe for success. Just ask Liverpool.
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