A lack of control is responsible for Manchester United's susceptibility when games resume.

A rising tide of issues looms perilously over Manchester United. The team has suffered six defeats in 10 games, leaving Erik ten Hag’s men with an uphill battle in both their Premier League and Champions League campaigns. Adding to their woes, a string of injuries has left the manager with a limited pool of solutions for a growing list of problems.

One particular cause for concern is United’s tendency to concede goals swiftly after a restart. In their 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich, Ten Hag’s side allowed the opposition to score their second goal merely four minutes after the German team notched their first. Bayern's third goal, a penalty by Harry Kane, came four minutes after Rasmus Hojlund's goal. Finally, Mathys Tel scored the match-winning fourth goal for Bayern, just four minutes after Casemiro's goal.

This issue plagued United once again in their 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray, as Kerem Akturkoglu equalized a mere four minutes after Hojlund’s goal, which had put United ahead at 2-1. Expanding the timeframe between goals, Wilfried Zaha's 23rd-minute goal falls into the category of "quick collapse," occurring six minutes after Hojlund's opener.

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This problem is not exclusive to the Champions League, as data from Opta demonstrates. United is currently one of the weakest teams in the Premier League when it comes to conceding goals within five minutes of a restart.

Sheffield United: 7

Aston Villa: 5

Manchester United: 5

Brighton & Hove Albion: 4

Luton Town: 4

Wolverhampton Wanderers: 4

(*Opta considers goals scored in stoppage time to occur in the 45th and 90th minutes, respectively.)

Taking a broader look at the timeframe since the start of the 2022-23 season, it becomes evident that this is an area of weakness for United that has worsened with the onset of the new campaign. Only six teams have conceded more goals within five minutes of kick-off since last season's start, with three of those teams being relegated in May.

Whether it be after scoring goals, conceding goals, early in the first half, or early in the second half, Manchester United consistently switches off. The question arises: why?

"We are aware of it," responded Ten Hag when The Athletic presented the query before United's match against Burnley last month. "You can't ignore things like this. Therefore, we coach the players and the team accordingly."

When asked the same question after the Galatasaray defeat, Ten Hag acknowledged the point. "We should keep this in mind even more," he replied. "First, we need focus, but we also have to exert more control over the game by being even more compact in possession."

"Retaining possession becomes crucial," he continued. "After scoring a goal, we must establish control. Opponents tend to give away more space when we score, and when we concede, they become even more aggressive."

Control has been incessantly emphasized by the United manager in recent weeks, highlighting its absence from his team's play this season.

Part of this struggle can be attributed to the club's injury concerns. Ten Hag has been unable to field key players who would normally bring composure to chaotic situations. Due to injuries or illnesses, more than a dozen players from a 25-man squad named in September have been unavailable.

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United's ability to build from the back has suffered in games without Lisandro Martinez, and even when he has played, the Argentine center-back has failed to replicate his excellent form from the previous season. The absence of Raphael Varane has also impacted the team's capacity to defend larger spaces, as his recovery speed and anticipation were vital in defensive transitions. Although Aaron Wan-Bissaka is not flawless, his ability to slide-tackle against wingers has been sorely missed. Furthermore, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, and Sergio Reguilon's injuries have disrupted the balance on the left side of the team, with Shaw's proficiency in progressing the ball between the penalty areas being a significant loss.

Tactical design is another factor contributing to United's lack of control in matches, with Ten Hag's pre-season aim to transform the team into "the best transition team in the world" causing issues. While this desire makes logical sense with players like Martinez, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, and Marcus Rashford, who thrive in playing at speed and exploiting open spaces, both Fernandes and Rashford have struggled this season, resulting in blunted attacking moves.

In the case of Casemiro, the tackling, counter-pressing, and positional awareness that made him so crucial last season appear to have deserted him. United's vulnerability to cutback goals demonstrates this regression (a subject we will delve into in the near future).

Rather than harnessing power through controlled chaos and captivating...