Ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has supported his compatriot Victor Lindelof, saying that the Manchester United man needs ‘defending’ by Jose Mourinho.
Lindelof, along with central defensive partner Eric Bailly, has come in for criticism for his early-season performances so far, as United struggled to win 2-1 at home against Leicester City before being humbled 3-2 and 3-0 against Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.
Bailly did not feature in the defeat to Spurs, but Lindelof replaced Phil Jones on 58 minutes and put in another unconvincing performance.
But Eriksson insists Lindelof is a quality player and just needs backing from United manager Mourinho to flourish.
He told Sky Sports (via Goal): “I have to say he did two great mistakes last match I thought. And he was lucky he got away with it, both of them.
“But you don’t expect that from him. But, anyhow, we’re talking about a very good football player.
“For Sweden, he’s been fantastic and Sweden got to the quarter-final [of the World Cup]. He was important in the qualification so he is a great player, no doubts about that.
“And, of course, when you are criticised as a player, as a coach, life is difficult. You have to come back. But, if you don’t have the manager, the coach defending you, life is even more difficult, much more difficult.
“So, I think – me, and now I am talking about me – in all the teams I had, if it’s a club or you, you had to defend your players.”
Why Man Utd paid £31m to sign Lindelof
The £31m United paid Benfica for Victor Lindelof’s services in 2017 made him the club’s most expensive defender of all time, topping the £30m they paid Leeds for Rio Ferdinand in 2002.
Lindelof had played 47 games in all competitions in the 2016/17 season and impressed as Benfica sealed the Portuguese league title.
Before the Red Devils signed him, Lindelof had been described as the “perfect” United player, as well as ‘quick, confident with the ball and very strong’ by ex-United and Sweden international Jesper Blomqvist.
However, United are yet to truly see those qualities from Lindelof.
And even more worryingly, back in September 2017, Gary Rowett admitted that he had rejected the chance to bring Lindelof to Birmingham City during his spell at St Andrews between 2014 and 2016, saying that he was ‘not tough enough.’
United’s next game is away at Burnley on Sunday, with the Red Devils unbeaten against the Clarets since 2009 – it remains to be seen whether Lindelof will be restored to the starting XI.
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