Michael Owen didn’t hold back after Tottenham’s 1–0 win over Manchester United. Watching Sundays’s clash, he criticized Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui, and Matthijs de Light saying they were “dozing off” at the back when United needed them most.
It wasn’t just talk. James Maddison grabbed the decisive strike after a simple loose ball. Onana parried Lucas Bergvall’s shot right into danger yet none of the centre-backs reacted.
Owen summed it up harshly: they weren’t blocking, marking, or even waking up. “They’re literally doing nothing,” he said with frustration.
That moment didn’t just hurt, it laid everything bare. It was like a snapshot of everything that’s been falling apart at the back for United. Not just a one-off mistake, but the same kind of basic, avoidable lapse that keeps showing up, week after week. And the worst part? It’s starting to feel normal.
These lads aren’t just out of form they’re forgetting the bare minimum of what it means to defend. Tracking runners, clearing danger, staying switched on… this is day-one stuff. And yet here we are again, watching the same mistakes unfold like a bad rerun.
Owen remarked how quiet the defence was compared to the restless energy expected at this level.
The defeat has United staring at 15th place, a position they’ve hovered around with only 13 games left in the season. It’s a cold reminder of how quickly fortunes can tumble at a club of this stature.
Owen’s critique hit hard because defensively, numbers shouldn’t matter. Whether it’s Maguire or Mazraoui, each centre-back should react. The issue is more than lack of pace it’s about attention and urgency. And right now, that spark is missing.
Root Cause: Tactical, Mental, or Both?
Owen’s comments point to a deeper issue: lack of structure or urgency. Are these players confused by Amorim’s new system? Are they unfamiliar with their roles?
It’s not a one-off lapse it’s how they’ve played for 90 minutes. When defenders sit back, midfielders work twice as hard, and attackers lose their platform. United’s attempts to build from the back are collapsing under pressure.
With only four wins in 15 Premier League matches under Amorim, it’s clear things aren’t clicking. The misery of a single mistake becomes part of a broader downward trend.
The path forward is obvious, but tough. It starts with awareness ending the habit of drifting during danger moments. It also needs sharper coaching: positioning, leadership, bite at the back.
There are no easy results in this league. If Eden Hazard could lose his cool after a misstep, so too can Maguire or De Ligt if they don’t embed sharper habits.
This can’t just be another post-match review in the dressing room with everyone nodding along while nothing changes. That goal Maddison’s goal wasn’t just about positioning. It was about awareness. It was about heart.
Harry Maguire's worn the armband. De Ligt came in as a supposed leader from Bayern. Mazraoui isn’t a kid. So where’s the responsibility? Where’s the voice that screams “mark your man!” when the ball spills loose?
Ruben Amorim can stand there and talk about turning the page all he wants but what’s the point if his players look like they’re stuck on repeat? You can’t move forward when half the team’s drifting through games like it’s a Sunday kick about.
If they keep nodding off for 90 minutes, they’re not escaping the past they're dragging it right back onto the pitch every week.
It wasn’t some freak error it’s the same kind of simple, sloppy mistake we’ve seen over and over again. And the most frustrating part? It’s starting to feel like no one’s learning from it.
Forget shape. Forget stats. Until someone in that backline takes charge really takes charge United will keep bleeding soft goals and easy points.
This isn’t about systems anymore. It’s about urgency. Pride. A bit of anger wouldn't hurt, either.
Yes, the manager’s under pressure. But this week isn’t about coaching shifts it’s about mindset. A corner flagged offside doesn’t win games but awareness does.
If Manchester United wakes up now, they can still climb. But that climb begins with defence and that means no more sleeping.
In modern football, mental lapses cost dearly. To rescue this season, United need not just tactics, but a spine on and off the ball. Defeat Tottenham, and they may start breathing again.