#5. United's defence looks shaky, and they'll need need to improve to have a better October
If Mourinho had been hoping for some respite after a tough September, he isn't going to get any. The fourth round match-up against City comes amidst a run of fixtures that includes Liverpool, Fenerbache, Chelsea and their neighbours in the latter half of next month.
With such a run, he needs something to restore his reputation as a maker of great defenses. Each of Smalling, Bailly and Blind have shown that they are prone to mistakes, and selecting an ideal combination of strength, power and passing ability will be crucial. It's here that it makes sense for Mourinho to play Blind just in front of the back two.
None of the fullbacks have convinced defensively yet – yesterday, Fosu Mensah showed a tentativeness that got punished and Rojo was as erratic as ever. It's how Mourinho handles that issue that will decide United's, and - in this increasingly hyped up, competitive world – his, fate come the end of the season.
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