Louis van Gaal's work is far from done as Man United show their flaws

Posted Monday, September 22, 2014 by ESPN

LEICESTER, England -- Three torrid minutes confirmed the fragility that continues to infect the heart of Manchester United. What followed compounded the sense that spending 150 million pounds could not prevent the catastrophe that befell them all once Rafael had lost his senses.

The Brazilian had cause to be enraged by referee Mark Clattenburg's refusal to penalise a clear push by Jamie Vardy in the 62nd minute. His subsequent baulk on the Leicester City striker, a rash move from a player who has typically kept such mistakes in his locker, was ill-advised, as he conceded a spot kick.

Even then, David Nugent's penalty had the score at 3-2 in favor of Manchester United, but once Rafael succumbed, his colleagues followed suit en route to a 5-3 loss. Leicester's Esteban Cambiasso's equaliser was the end product of penalty-box pinball that began when Wayne Rooney, seemingly without looking, had passed straight to a blue shirt. Juan Mata was equally lax when conceding possession to Ritchie De Laet for the fourth. Tyler Blackett committed a similar error to Rafael in conceding the penalty for Leicester's fifth and paid a double price in being sent off.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal recognised the Rafael incident as the key contribution to Sunday's disaster. Not so much the Brazilian's error itself, more the failure of his team to regain their footing.

For the first hour of the match, this looked like the old, dominant, strutting Manchester United. "At that time it was still 3-2," said Van Gaal, not shielding his exasperation. "It was not any problem. You can kill the game. Keep possession. You have to kill the game. And we didn't do that."

United had been cruising; their attacking play had delighted. Angel Di Maria, who scored a wonderful goal for United's second, played like the expensive jewel he is, with Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie showing signs of striking up an understanding. Daley Blind and Ander Herrera had dictated play in midfield.

All five were mere bystanders as United allowed four unanswered goals in their collapse, although Falcao at least could argue that he had been subbed off, disappointed not to score his first goal for United. When he rattled a blockbuster off the crossbar at the start of the second half, only one winner seemed possible; a Leicester win was made utterly improbable when Herrera scored his clever, back-heeled strike.

"At 3-1 down, I'd have been happy to get anything from it," Foxes manager Nigel Pearson said.

Van Gaal's initial team selection had suggested that his plan was to outscore rather than stifle his opponents, but instead it was Leicester who had the better of the type of score line that belongs in 1950s. "I think we created a lot of chances and we make a lot of superb goals, but a game lasts 90 minutes," van Gaal said.

Louis van Gaal's work is far from done as Man United show their flaws
Losing at Leicester shows just how much work van Gaal still has to do in fixing Man United.

Rafael's error gave Leicester hope, and a team brimming with spirit did not let their opportunity slide. It was Leicester's turn to thrill with the pace of their attack. Pearson, a cogent coach, recognises that far more than in the Championship League, pace is the key to success in the Premier League. He had also deciphered that if United employed the diamond they used last week against QPR, he could single out two weak links in Rafael and Marcos Rojo; the Argentine struggled badly against Vardy and De Laet.

"When you play diamond against diamond, it's full-back against full-back," Pearson said. "It's about what you can do on the transitions."

United, sincerely lacking defensive organisation once Jonny Evans limped off, collapsed under the weight of pressure and the careful planning of Pearson. Chris Smalling, who replaced Evans, was another defender who might wish to forget his afternoon but is unlikely to be allowed to. Until his red card, Blackett had looked the most secure, at 20 years old and this his only season so far in the first team. He will be suspended for West Ham's visit next week. With Evans leaving the King Power Stadium on crutches and Phil Jones out with a hamstring problem, United's defence looks bare.

Louis van Gaal's work is far from done as Man United show their flaws
Blackett has been the best of a bad bunch at the back for United, although he deserved his red card on Sunday.

It was clear to see why United's suits pursued Mats Hummels so aggressively, although there must be further regrets about failing to add Ezequiel Garay, an Argentine stopper long linked with a move to Old Trafford but allowed to slip to Zenit St. Petersburg instead.

Cambiasso's equaliser at 3 blew the roof off the King Power, and suddenly, United looked what they actually are -- an unfamiliar group, only recently assembled and working under a coach who does not favour making things simple. On the field, leadership continues to be a problem, and captain Rooney, initially playing as a midfielder and not exactly flourishing even when his teammates were, was to be found issuing rollickings to teammates while his own contribution had been less than outstanding.

United have suffered a series of false dawns over the past year as they struggle in the shadows of the Alex Ferguson era. Last week's 4-0 defeat of QPR now looks the latest occasion when an excitement borne of growing desperation got ahead of itself.

"The problem," van Gaal said, "is that we start our last match against QPR very good, with a new team, and new players, and then we play here and play very well and then give the game away. That's difficult now, but I am convinced we will improve that."