Kobbie Mainoo exemplifies one of two ‘big problems’ for Man Utd under Ten Hag, says Carragher
Jamie Carragher used Kobbie Mainoo to illustrate one of two “big problems” with the Machester United system under Erik ten Hag this season.
United have faced 20+ shots in 12 Premier League games since Ten Hag joined the club in 2022, double that of Man City and Liverpool under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
Analysing United’s defending on Monday Night Football, Carragher said Ten Hag’s tactics are “impossible” to carry out.
Carragher said: “Over the last few weeks, Manchester United have been in great form but still the underlying numbers have been really poor.
“They’ve been very fortunate, so we’re not talking about them now just because they lost to Fulham.
“It’s about performance. They defend like a team I’ve never seen before. They like to press high with a deep block.
“It’s impossible. They like to do two things at the same time. You can only do one or the other.
“We’re all pressing high or we’re all defending deep. They’re trying to do both.”
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Carragher said: “I’ve chosen clips against Fulham, but I could have chosen clips from where they’ve won games like against Aston Villa. It’s still the same problem.
“I want to highlight a problem from the very kick-off. If I highlight Kobbie Mainoo, this is not a criticism of him, it’s more of what are his instructions before the game?
“He’s not sure if he should be looking after the holding midfielder or watching the No 10. He’s caught in between.
“It’s straight from the kick-off. You should know your job from kick-off. That’s down to the coaching staff.
“You can see the big problem then had just 20 seconds into the game against Fulham. It’s been the problem for Manchester United all season.
“They’ve shown they’re a poor side at handling counter-attacks. They’ve got no pace at the back and they’ve got a lack of legs in midfield.”
Carragher added: “Another big problem for them is when they’ve got the ball. Some people say there’s no patterns of play with Manchester United.
“What’s their philosophy? I tell you one of the reasons why there’s no patterns of play and another reason why they get done on the counter-attack… Look at the positions the players find themselves in when Raphael Varane is on the ball.
“You look where the right-back is [Diogo Dalot] and he can’t receive a pass. Mainoo is on the last line. His position can’t be right. Bruno Fernandes, your No 10 is playing like a striker, and on the other side, Victor Lindelof can’t receive the ball.
“It leads to a turnover and how many times have you seen Manchester United players having to run 40 yards back to their own goal this season?
“Look at the ones who are sprinting. The ones who took up wrong positions. Dalot, Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes and Lindelof. They’re sprinting 30, 40, 50 yards five or six times in a game – hence why they get so many injuries in a game.
“With Fulham’s winning goal, we see that Marcus Rashford won’t run while Harry Maguire and Christian Eriksen can’t run. That’s a massive problem for them.”
Chelsea: Pochettino hits back at ‘unfair’ Neville after ‘blue billion pound bottlejobs’ jibe in Liverpool loss
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has hit back at Gary Neville’s comments following their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
The Blues lost to Virgil van Dijk’s glancing header in extra time as the Reds secured a last-gasp victory with the game heading towards a penalty shoot-out.
Liverpool were missing as many as 11 injured players for the Wembley showpiece but their young players put in impressive performances to help them to secure the first domestic trophy of the season.
Chelsea had a much stronger bench, while £100million midfielders Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez were on the pitch but Pochettino’s side couldn’t win the game despite the momentum shifting towards the Blues towards the end of normal time.
During his commentary, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville commented: “[Jurgen] Klopp’s kids winning against the blue billion pound bottle jobs” as Liverpool beat Chelsea in extra time.
Reacting to Neville’s comments, Pochettino told reporters: “I didn’t hear what he said, but if you compare the age of the two groups, I think it is similar.
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“I have a good relationship with Gary and I don’t know if that’s how I can take this opinion. But I respect his opinion.
“Of course, we made a few changes with [Conor] Gallagher and [Ben] Chilwell in extra time, it is true we didn’t keep the energy of how we finished the second half.
“But for sure I feel proud. I feel proud of the players, I think they made a big effort. We are a young team and, there is nothing to compare with Liverpool (just) because they finished with also a few young players. I think it’s impossible (to compare the two sides).
“He (Neville) knows the dynamics are completely different. I think it’s not fair to talk in this way, if he said that.”
Reflecting on the match, Pochettino added: “We play for a trophy – we didn’t get. You can’t tell me anything to make them feel better. They need to feel the pain like us.
“We need to work more, do better things and to compete in this level against a team that for the last five or six seven years have been competing for big things.
“Some leadership inside the pitch helps. I feel the same as the players. It is so painful. I have less time to win titles, they are younger than me and for sure they have time.
“When you don’t get what you want, always the effort you made over seven or eight months disappears so quickly. That is difficult to manage. It is painful. But if we want to win, we have to move on.”
Erik ten Hag dealing with same Bruno Fernandes problems Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was told to fix
In the eyes of many, Erik ten Hag has not made enough improvement at Manchester United since he was named as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's permanent successor.
The Dutchman is still having to deal with plenty of issues that plagued his predcessor, one of which is the conduct of Bruno Fernandes. Ten Hag has, if anything, placed even more faith in the Portugal international than Solskjaer, given it was Ten Hag who named Fernandes as club captain at the start of the season.
The attacking midfielder has not exactly repaid the faith that was shown in him, with the current campaign arguably Fernandes' most underwhelming one in a United shirt from an individual perspective. He has just three league goals to his name this term, the most recent of which came nearly four months ago away at Fulham.
To make matters worse, he is still guilty of some of the lesser attractive parts of the game that saw him criticised while Solskjaer was still at the helm. Back in 2020, after a dodgy dive away at Tottenham, then-boss Solskjaer was urged to "have a word" with the former Sporting star to prevent any repeat incidents.
"Bruno Fernandes was the best player on the pitch for Manchester United against Tottenham on Friday," ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told the Daily Mail. "But if you hate diving with a passion like I do, he has to be called out for conning referee Jonathan Moss by leaning into Eric Dier and then falling over.
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"But no matter how good you are or how well you speak off the pitch, if you make a habit of trying to win penalties and free-kicks, you won't be admired in the same way. At Spurs, he deserved a yellow card for his tumble and as a fan of his I don't want to see him start doing that.
"I'm sure Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have a word with him about it, and he should do."
HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Fernandes a problem for Ten Hag? Comment below
© James Gill/Danehouse
If Solskjaer did, it clearly hasn't done the trick, as nearly four years down the line Fernandes is facing criticism for the same sort of antics - only this time, the backlash is coming from his own supporters. During Saturday's dismal 2-1 home defeat by Fulham, the 29-year-old was up to his old tricks.
After having a shot saved by Bernd Leno, Fernandes was caught feigning injury as replays showed minimal contact was made by Fulham midfielder Sasa Lukic. He was quickly told to get up by referee Michael Oliver and eventually did, but only once it was clear no free-kick was going to be given and United were still on the attack.
A large number of United fans voiced their frustrations with Fernandes online after a clip of the exchange went viral. One Red Devils supporter wrote: "Normally a big Bruno fan but this is PATHETIC."
Another added: "As a United supporter I can almost see why so many people say Bruno isn’t fit to be captain. I just think he’s really passionate though."
One fan claimed: "Manchester United should better give back the captain armband to Maguire before they regret it." Another simply declared: " Bruno Fernandes is embarrassing...."
This may be an issue Ten Hag feels he has to address internally, though in truth the Dutchman has bigger problems at the moment, as United languish in sixth eight points adrift of fourth spot.
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Manchester United prospect undecided on future with contract set to expire
Manchester United enager Omari Forson is yet to sign the new contract offered to him by the club and is attracting interest from teams across Europe with his current deal expiring in the summer.
The 19-year-old forward made his first Premier League start for the Red Devils on Saturday in the defeat to Fulham at Old Trafford.
It was a disappointing day for the club but a promising one for the teenager who replaced the injured Rasmus Hojlund in the starting front three alongside Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
This was despite the likes of Antony and Amad Diallo starting the match on the bench, showing that Erik ten Hag has some faith in the inexperienced forward.
However, Forson’s contract with Manchester United is coming to an end and, despite The Athletic reporting that he has been offered competitive terms, he is yet to sign a new deal.
The same report states that ‘multiple teams across Europe are tracking the situation’ and would be ready to pounce if he decides his future is elsewhere.
Manchester United will be hoping that handing the youngster his first Premier League start will go a long way to convincing him that his future is best handled by them, with a clear path into the first team.
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The teenager has made four appearances in all competitions this season and will hope to gain more opportunities while Hojlund is sidelined with a muscular injury which could keep him out for three weeks.
However, Forson’s first team opportunities will also put him in the shop window for interested parties who may be keen to offer him an even more attractive salary.
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Manchester United would be due compensation for Forson if he were to leave in the summer.
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The 7 most exciting teams to watch in Europe right now: Arsenal, Leverkusen…
Arsenal have clicked. They’ve morphed into a free-scoring monster of a football team that has the rest of the league extremely concerned.
The North Londoners might be the most exciting team in England right now, but there are teams all over Europe doing absolute madnesses, writing stories we’re going to be telling for a very long time.
Join us on a quick tour of the continent, taking a look at football’s best teams to watch right now.
Arsenal
The Gunners were misfiring for periods earlier in the season, but someone must’ve cleaned out those cannons recently because, Jesus Christ, they’re frightening at the minute.
Just out there blowing Premier League ships full of holes, sending top-tier, respectable football clubs down for a little sleep in Davy Jones’ locker.
Six against West Ham, five against Burnley, four against Newcastle — a little blip at Porto only makes them more exciting and less predictable.
Having no recognised striker in the starting eleven seems only to have added potency to Arsenal’s attacking threat, with four or five players taking up positions between the midfield and defensive lines at any given time.
A title push is very much on the cards.
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Girona
We’re all rooting for them. El Leicester Ciudad. Girona may have fallen behind slightly in the title race recently, but it’s not over till it’s over, and the Blanquivermells won’t be throwing in the towel anytime soon.
Regardless of where the Liga title ends up, Girona look sure to take part in next year’s Champions League, and that’s still a massive achievement, even if they’re essentially owned by Man City.
Bayer Leverkusen
The thorn in Harry Kane’s side, Kane’s bane, Bayer Neverlosin’. Eleven games to go, eight points ahead of Bayern, and still unbeaten in the league.
Die Werkself are playing exciting, refreshing football, they’re scoring last-minute winners to keep the run alive, and they’ve got a 20-year-old legend-in-the-making in Florian Wirtz.
To say every game is a cup final for Leverkusen from here on out is cliched, so let’s go for something different — Xabi Alonso’s side are not going to get an opportunity like this presented to them again. Bayern won’t allow it.
Alonso is heavily touted to make a big return to Anfield next season, so this might be his and Leverkusen’s only shot at perfection. They’re desperate not to f*ck it up, and that makes for thrilling football. We’re witnessing history. Maybe.
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The man of the moment all dressed up. Sehr, sehre gut.
Benfica
The red half of Lisbon is a football lover’s dream right now. Benfica have a team full of FM2024 wonderkids, with Marcos Leonardo leading the line, Joao Neves pulling strings in midfield, and Antonio Silva running the show at the back.
Pop those rising ballers into the cauldron that is the Estadio da Luz, mix in a returning Angel Di Maria, David Neres, Rapid Legs Rafa Silva, midfield general Florentino Luis, eye of newt, and wing of bat, and you’ve got a recipe for a potion that is setting the Primeira Liga ablaze right now, with only one loss and an awful lot of games involving red cards.
Box office.
PSV
Can we talk about the fact that it’s not just Leverkusen chasing an invincible season, right now? PSV are on exactly the same trajectory.
With Ajax faltering despite Jordan Henderson shifting a load of shirts, the Lampen are lighting up the Eredivisie this season, with a perfect blend of youth and experience.
Noa Lang, Johan Bakayoko, and ex-Dallas man Ricardo Pepi bring dynamism and excitement, whilst Luuk de Jong, Chucky Lozano, and Patrick van Aanholt have seen it all before.
Keep an eye out for Armel Bella-Kotchup making the most of his loan out in Eindhoven, too. A top-of-the-table clash with Feyenoord awaits. Don’t miss out on the PSV hype train.
Bologna
Bologna have one of the world’s most exciting young managers right now in Thiago Motta. The Rossoblu are currently in the Champions League places in Serie A, above the likes of Roma, Lazio, Atalanta, and reigning champs Napoli.
They’re so much fun to watch — we really can’t recommend them enough if you’re after freshening up your football feed.
Motta’s team have won their last five league games—a record only equalled by league leaders Inter—and boast exciting talents like Joshua Zirkzee and Scotland’s very own Lewis Ferguson. Highly recommended viewing.
Brest
Les Pirates (coolest nickname in football) are somehow second in Ligue Un behind—guess who—PSG, and there have been four red cards handed out in their last five games.
The best kind of chaos from some relatively unfamiliar faces. Tres excitant.
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