Ashley Young believes Manchester United have proved Roy Keane wrong with their defensive record this season.
Keane criticised United – and Young in particular – after Jose Mourinho’s side suffered a second Premier League defeat in three games at Newcastle nine days ago.
Young has been converted from a winger into a wing-back for United in recent seasons, and former Old Trafford favourite Keane said: ‘I’ve always thought with Ashley Young in your back-four, you are going to struggle.
‘They haven’t sorted out the defensive problems they have had over the last few years and that will continue.’
However, United have the best defensive record in the Premier League, having conceded one less goal than Manchester City, and the FA Cup win at Huddersfield last weekend brought their 24th clean sheet this season.
Young said: ‘It’s fantastic. I think a lot has been said about defenders – a lot was said last week – and it’s one of those things. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion.
‘Keep getting clean sheets and hopefully we can chip in with goals as well as the front boys.’
United will be aiming to put up another strong defensive performance in Spain on Wednesday night when they face Sevilla in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
Last season’s Europa League winners are not among the favourites, but Young sees no reason why United shouldn’t go for glory.
‘Of course,’ he added. ‘You don’t enter a competition not to win it. That’s what we will be looking to do and take each game as it comes.
‘The next one is against Sevilla. That’s a tough away game but we just have to concentrate on ourselves.
‘We’re involved in the FA Cup, Champions League, we can still win the league. We know the points difference, but never say never. So we just need to keep getting points and keep progressing and hopefully win a trophy.
‘It’s a massive week. We had to get ourselves back to winning ways after last weekend (at Newcastle). We can’t look too far ahead. Obviously we know we have got Chelsea coming up and Sevilla is the next game and that’s where our thoughts are.’
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