Man United ignored Alex Ferguson warning and made £423m mistake Liverpool never would

The 2021/22 season was a dismal one for Manchester United as they suffered their worst campaign in Premier League history, with their total of 57 goals conceded the most they have conceded in a single campaign.

As a result, it has perhaps been no surprise to see new Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag look to improve the United defence this summer, already parting with £14.7m to sign Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord and £57m to reunite with Lisandro Martinez from Ajax.

The pair have taken United’s spending on defenders since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired in the summer of 2013 to a whopping £423m. The Scot left the Red Devils as Premier League champions, yet they have failed to win the league in the nine years since his exit.

Moreover, they have only added one FA Cup, one League Cup, one Europa League and two Community Shields to their trophy cabinet. With Ferguson famously claiming during his 27-year stint in charge of an all-conquering United that, “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles,” it’s easy to see what has gone wrong.

That £423m has been spent on 17 defenders. From the previous 15, none can be regarded as unmitigated successes, with a feeling of inconsistent indifference or juries still out the best any can hope for. Meanwhile, only eight remain at Old Trafford.

When you consider that Martinez becomes the seventh senior centre-back in Ten Hag’s squad while Malacia becomes the fourth left-back, the imbalance at United is crystal clear. Littered with defensive failings whose arrivals were meant to prompt a return to the success of the Ferguson glory days, the Red Devils’ latest manager now has 13 senior defenders to pick from.

Meanwhile, the Argentine’s arrival also means United have spent big on a