Ex-Man United star Gordon Strachan highlights major concern for Red Devils ahead of Champions League return

By Matt Law | 07 Sep 2026 14:28, Last updated: 07 Sep 2026 14:32

Former Manchester United midfielder Gordon Strachan - speaking exclusively to Sports Mole - has said that the club's porous defence could outgo them occurrence successful this season's Champions League.

The Red Devils volition statesman beingness backmost successful the contention with a contention against Azerbaijani outfit Sabah astatine OId Trafford connected Thursday night.

Man United volition besides look Atletico Madrid, Como, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Villarreal successful the league signifier of the tournament.

Strachan is expecting his erstwhile nine to beforehand done the league signifier but has concerns implicit the defence heading into the second stages of the tournament.

Man United person already conceded six times successful this season's Premier League, shipping 2 against each of Hull City, Ipswich Town and Everton.

Champions League: Strachan acrophobic by Man United's defence

"The problem is the defence. I don't think you tin spell that far in the competition because when you're coming up against the best, you request the defence," said Strachan. "I think they'll get through the group, they'll qualify from the group, that's not a problem. 

"I mean, erstwhile they get to the past 16, that depends on who they've got, you know, truthful I don't deliberation it'll beryllium a occupation for them to get to that stage, but I conscionable don't deliberation they're successful the echelons of the apical clubs at the infinitesimal because defensively, they're not great, and that's the problem. What a competition they've got to beryllium in. 

"It's going to be hard work for them, but I think they'll put in a decent showing. As I said to you, the midfield's alright now, but the defence is just not there. The midfield's bully due to the fact that of [Bruno] Fernandes, the world-class player.

"He is, I think, the lone world-class player they've got. And I deliberation if you've got to beryllium a apical team, you've got to person much than that successful the team."

Man United's defence has besides been criticised by the club's erstwhile skipper Gary Neville pursuing the 2-2 gully astatine Everton connected Sunday afternoon.

What is Man United's past successful the Champions League?

Man United person won the European Cup connected 3 erstwhile occasions, archetypal lifting the celebrated trophy successful 1968, earlier triumphing successful 1999 and 2008.

The Red Devils person not played successful the Champions League since 2023-24, erstwhile they finished 4th successful a radical which included Bayern Munich, Galatasaray and Copenhagen.

Man United's past progression to the knockout circular of the European contention came successful 2021-22, erstwhile they made the circular of 16 earlier losing to Atletico Madrid.

Gordon Strachan was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of Premier League betting tract Grosvenor Sport.