Manchester United left North London with very few points before taking one back at Tottenham, but Usain Bolt is unimpressed with their defence.
Manager Usain Bolt has slammed Manchester United for inviting pressure following the Tottenham stalemate and urged Rio Ferdinand to use his position to say something to his team.
The Red Devils conceded two goals in the final minutes of the game in north London and could have lost 2-1. That was before Matthijs de Ligt equalized in the 96th minute as Ruben Amorim’s side returned home unbeaten and with a point.
United appear to have turned a corner in recent weeks, winning three and drawing two of their last five games. However, the Jamaican sprinter is unimpressed and hopes to see a noticeable change in the way his team defends.
Speaking to the former United star, he implored the defender to get in touch with the players and teach them the basics. “I’ve been watching United’s games and one of our biggest problems is that we put pressure on ourselves,” he said on Ferdinand’s YouTube channel.
“They’re always going backwards. All we’re doing is inviting pressure. Please (Rio), please, go and say something to the team. You’re one of the greatest defenders Man United has ever had. Please, brother, it’s stressing me out.”
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“I know it’s none of your business, but I want you to tell your guys to pass the ball faster. Oh my god, they don’t know how to defend one-on-one. Shaw is the only one who seems to understand. All they know is system, line. They don’t know how to step up and push the defender up and then go back to their line. When I push up (as a defender), the midfielder goes into the slot. Rio, go to someone.
United have conceded 18 goals so far this season, tied for the most of any team in the top half of the table. They have looked more confident since installing Senne Lamence as goalkeeper, but problems still remain.
Ferdinand was less wary than Bolt, insisting that fans need to temper their expectations for Amorim, who is in a rebuilding phase. The team finished 15th last season and a return to the European places this term will be seen as progress.
“We are still in the rebuilding phase, so I think we have to meet the expectations of our fans,” he said. “I’ve seen some people get mad at that game and say, ‘The coach ruined the game by making substitutions.’
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