Manchester United finished the 2019/20 season with the third best defensive record in the league, having conceded only 36 goals in 38 matches.
The Red Devils have conceded 11 goals in three league games this term and six of them were against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 4th.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are 16th in the table after managing only one win in the Premier League.
Victor Lindelöf, who started the first two league games, had to make way for Eric Bailly in the heart of United’s defence for their crushing defeat to Spurs. The Sweden international is unable to pinpoint the reason for his side’s poor start to the 2020/21 campaign.
“It hasn’t been the best start for us in the league, I don’t know what it’s all about. If it’s because we played for a long time in Europe [last season] and didn’t get the time off we usually get, is difficult to answer,” he told Aftonbladet.
“We probably had 1-2 weeks together before the league started and we haven’t got to the level we’ve wanted. But I think after this international break, a lot of players are back and ready to perform at the level we can.”
United made it to the semi-finals of the Europa League in August, which is why their preparation time for this season was reduced when compared to those clubs who finished the 2019/20 season in July.
There have been suggestions that Lindelöf was ‘worn out’. According to Aftonbladet, the Premier League side ‘expressed concerns’ with Sweden over the centre-back’s fitness. However, the 26-year-old doesn’t share the same concern as his employer.
“Not for me personally. I have been set to play two matches in this selection [for Sweden in October],” the defender explained.
“The body feels good. It’s getting started now. Yesterday it felt very good in the legs anyway. If Janne (Andersson) wants me to play, I have absolutely no problem playing another match.”
When further quizzed if Solskjaer and United have ‘any opinions’ about him playing three matches for his country during the two-week international break, he said: “We can talk sometimes when it comes to certain selections.”
“Like the last selection, I had a talk with Janne before and we agreed that I would only play one match because I felt that the body did not agree to play two games. But for this selection [in October], there has been nothing.”
Manchester United take on Newcastle United at the weekend and it remains to be seen whether Lindelöf can regain his place in the starting lineup.
