Amid a terrific improvement in form for Manchester United before the season was halted, Victor Lindelof really was not getting enough love.
The Swede was arguably Manchester United’s best player in 2018/19. He was definitely the most improved, going from a 5/10 opening season to a 9/10 with his performances.
This past season he has levelled off a little. It would be fairer to grade his game at more of a 6 or 7/10.
If you were to look at his displays over the February to March period, Lindelof’s game was much improved, more of an 8/10.
His partnership with Harry Maguire became a cornerstone of United’s good run, with impressive cameos too from Luke Shaw and Eric Bailly.
Take the home win against City for instance. Lindelof was imperious, making six clearances and winning three tackles on the way to helping Manchester United keep a clean sheet.
Not enough credit
The media has led the disrespect towards the Swedish international by continually touting United with moves for centre-backs.
Sky Sports claimed United wanted RB Leizpig’s Dayot Upamecano, while The Mirror suggest a £52 million move for Inter’s Milan Skriniar.
Rio Ferdinand added his voice to the calls for a new centre-back, urging a move for Kalidou Koulibaly [The Mail].
All of this has a similar undercurrent, Lindelof would be the fall guy, not £80 million club captain Maguire.
But this is all unfair on the Swede, three years on from his £31 million move from Benfica, and he is not being given enough credit for his performances.
There have been games this season where he has underperformed. He has struggled a little against more physical strikers, and this is an area he should look to improve, or be more consistent in.
His partnership with Maguire really looked to be clicking though, and its not right that the England defender should take all the credit for this.
There is strong competition already at United internally from Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe. Some are waiting for Lindelof to slip up, and then there will be a kneejerk reaction.
It is up to Lindelof to keep at the top of his game, and earn the plaudits. If he keeps playing like he did in the win over City, the rumours about a need to sign a new centre-back will begin to disappear.
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