Stats: Manchester United defence best for five years

Things might seem gloomy at Manchester United following Monday night’s FA Cup elimination at the hands of Arsenal but the Red Devils are still on track for a top four finish in the Premier League.

Louis Van Gaal‘s side currently sit in fourth place with ten games to go but still face tough tests against Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal in the league.

One positive to take into that run in is the fact that United currently boast their best Premier League defensive record for five years.

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Van Gaal clearly saw the backline as an area that needed immediate attention when he took charge at Old Trafford last summer as the Red Devils started the season with three centre-backs for the majority of games.

The current system is a more familiar one as United are setting up with four at the back and they will hope they can remain tight as they have only conceded 26 league goals this campaign – the third fewest in the division.

At the same stage last year, United had conceded 31 goals, the same number as they had after 28 games in the 2012/13 season.

You have to go back as far as the 2009/10 season to see a time when the Manchester United defence was better than it currently is with ten games to go. They had conceded 24 goals at the same stage five years ago.

Despite the defensive solidity this year, United are still ten points off league leaders Chelsea and fans would expect to be fighting for the title with ten games to go, rather than for a place in the Champions League.

David De Gea has been sensational this season and his form has undoubtedly been a large reason behind the defensive stability seen.

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United host Tottenham on Sunday and will be looking to keep their third successive clean-sheet in the league as they look to fight off competition from another of the top four contenders.

Winning a trophy this season may now be out of reach, but the defensive stability is a major positive that United can take into the final ten games and beyond.

What have you made of Manchester United’s defence this season?