After taking over at Manchester United in December, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has rejuvenated his Red Devils side. The club recently completed a stunning comeback against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League and, after a spectacular set of results in the last three months, it looks very likely that the Norwegian will be retaining his job at the end of this season.
Getting the permanent role at Old Trafford will be massive for the 46-year-old manager. This added responsibility on his shoulders should be assisted by the Manchester United board. The Norwegian must be provided with the quality players he needs to challenge for the Premier League title next season. Although Solskjaer’s side are looking good currently, the team requires some defensive changes in order to make it more solid and add to its consistency. The Old Trafford side have the worst defensive record in the top six.
Ruben Dias Can Bolster Manchester United’s Defence
Player Profile: Ruben Dias
Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, and Chris Smalling have been Manchester United’s weak links in defence. Although Smalling has been a little inspiring playing alongside Victor Lindelof in the heart of the defence, both Bailly and Jones are having a season to forget. Only Lindelof is having an impressive season at the back for the Red Devils.
Benfica have always produced world class talents over the years. The likes of Bernardo Silva, Angel Di Maria and Nemanja Matic have their roots based there. The Portuguese side are good at nurturing young potentials. Ruben Dias is certainly a young centre-back with great potential.
The 21-year-old Portuguese is a player very similar to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk or Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly. Playing in the heart of the defence, he is very vocal and commanding. In addition, he possesses great leadership qualities and is good at maintaining the shape of his defence. The young defender has arguably been Benfica’s best player this season. He has got the potential to be one of the best defenders in the world.
It is due to his defensive contributions that Benfica are leading the Liga Nos table on goal difference. The defender’s tackles and interceptions have made it very difficult for opposition teams to penetrate through the Benfica defence. Even though the 21-year-old is quite inexperienced, he surely has the quality to play at the top level. The defender is as good as Ajax’s young sensation Matthijs de Ligt, if not better.
Solution To Solskjaer’s Defensive Crisis?
At Manchester United, Dias would add quality into Solskjaer’s team by replacing Jones or Bailly. He will make the United defence look more solid and stable. The 21-year-old’s vocal and commanding skills will definitely add up to the team’s character. The partnership of Lindelof and Dias will help in the proper organization of the team on the pitch with and without the ball. Dias can be the solution to United’s leaky defence and his quality can make Manchester United title challengers again.
At Manchester United, the player can follow the footsteps of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Jaap Stam to become one of the best defenders in the world. The intensity of the Premier League will make him tougher and improve his overall game. Playing alongside former Benfica teammate Victor Lindelof will definitely help Dias in adapting to the new style in the Premier League. To conclude, Dias seems to be perfect for Solskjaer and Manchester United.
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