5 reasons why Manchester United can win the Champions League

#3 They’re solid at the back

David de Gea staying with United is a massive boost for them

While United may have splashed the cash on Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof, and Nemanja Matic this summer, the biggest plus point for them could well turn out to be one of the players who they’ve managed to keep instead. David de Gea was the subject of much interest from Real Madrid at the start of the summer, and as fans know, when Real want someone they usually get the player. This wasn’t the case with de Gea though and now United get to have another season with one of the best goalkeepers in the world between their sticks.

United were criticised for many things last season but their defensive record certainly wasn’t one of them – they let in just 29 league goals all season, only three more than the tightest defence in the league in Tottenham Hotspur – and their unbeaten streak between October and May was largely down to their defensive prowess rather than their stellar goal scoring record.

This season, not only do they still have de Gea, but the often-injured Phil Jones has suddenly come back to the forefront with some solid early performances. Jones – once named as potentially the greatest United player of them all by Sir Alex Ferguson – seems to finally be living up to his promise under Mourinho, and if he can form a strong partnership with Eric Bailly, Lindelof, or even Marcos Rojo or Chris Smalling, then United’s defence becomes even stronger.

And in a Champions League facing potential attacking forces like PSG and Real Madrid, United will need the strongest defence possible.