Peter Schmeichel, a former player for Manchester United, criticised Tyrell Malacia’s performance in the 2-2 tie with Tottenham and acknowledged that the defence is ‘weak’ without its main defender.

Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, Erik ten Hag’s first-choice center-halves, are sidelined for the remainder of the season, though the Frenchman might be available for the FA Cup final against Manchester City on June 3.

On Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal match against Brighton, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof were paired at the centre of defence. On Thursday night in north London, they will continue that arrangement.

Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford gave United a 2-0 halftime advantage, but Spurs came back to tie the game with goals from Pedro Porro and Son Heung-min in the second half.

Malacia was one of four players replaced by Ten Hag in a 10-minute span between the 61st and 71st minutes, replacing Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The Dutchman was responsible for Tottenham’s equaliser because he let Harry Kane to run straight past him and set up Son. Former United custodian Schmeichel said the full-back should not have allowed the Spurs star to ‘race straight past him’.

The Dane expressed his worries about the Shaw and Lindelof connection and expressed his worry that they are not a natural pair for center-half.

Schmeichel said to Premier League Productions that “defensively, we are a little vulnerable” without Varane and Martinez.

He went on to comment on the first objective, saying, “First of all, there is no pressure on the cross; in fact, they should stop the cross at birth, and then nobody follows in.

“Lindelof is a half-centre-half, a half-full-back, and Luke Shaw is a full-back; they are drawn to the ball, not to marking people or areas.