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5 Christmas gifts fans of Manchester United deserve this season

By Abdullah Mamaniyat

Manchester United FC players celebrate after scoring a goal during the UEFA Europa League football match between FC Zorya Luhansk and Manchester United FC at the Chornomorets stadium in Odessa on December 8, 2016. / AFP / SERGEI SUPINSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Manchester United FC players celebrate after scoring a goal during the UEFA Europa League football match between FC Zorya Luhansk and Manchester United FC at the Chornomorets stadium in Odessa on December 8, 2016. / AFP / SERGEI SUPINSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images) /
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3 – An injury free defence.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 11: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur and Phil Jones of Manchester United compete for the ball during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on December 11, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 11: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur and Phil Jones of Manchester United compete for the ball during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on December 11, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /

It didn’t matter who was in charge, but United have forever been cursed with something that just doesn’t allow them to play out the same defensive line consistently. Whether that be under Sir Alex Ferguson or the managers that have followed him, some sort of injury curse seems to hit the squad and disrupt the rhythm at the back.

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For instance already this season, Antonio Valencia has broken his hand, Chris Smalling broke his toe, Luke Shaw has had a fair share of groin problems whilst Eric Bailly injured his knee, came back and re-injured himself. Phil Jones recently came back after a 10 month absence from football too.

So by United standards, to have the pair of Jones/Rojo playing for a handful of consecutive games and having them play very well is actually a big deal.

Indeed the defence is sure to change around through the factor of form, but it would be truly fantastic for everyone concerned with the club if the team has a primary defence that it can rely on, and David De Gea is used to playing behind. Mourinho may have well figured out what his best combination in midfield and attack is, but the fitness concerns of the current defence will probably have him unsure over his back-line.

If this can fix up, then United have one less problem to worry about considering that this is mainly the same defence that conceded the joint-least amount of goals in the Premier League last season.

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