Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood has laid into Kobbie Mainoo and Christian Eriksen after Man United’s recent 1-1 draw against Burnley.
Speaking after the game, he told Sky Sports: “I can’t see what they do. In possession, they are all about moments and out of possession they are a shambles. They really are. The worrying thing is that the midfield does not run, when the ball gets played behind them their heads start wobbling.
“That’s down to the manager telling them and identifying it. Kobbie Mainoo, I really like him, but he has caught the Casemiro bug where he is jogging around the pitch.
“Christian Eriksen is the same – he is one of the most honest players you’re ever going to find. I think it is a culture there. Not willing to run. They aren’t running enough. They need to be able to run.
“If I was Kobbie’s agent or youth-team coach I would say to him, ‘when you first went into the team you ran around with a desire. You’re not doing that at the moment. Don’t fall into the trap of what they’re doing, you don’t have good examples there’.”
Man United’s midfield was often way too open and easily penetrated by the Burnley players, which might be why Mainoo was substituted by Erik ten Hag in the second half. Eriksen, meanwhile, might be allowing the Red Devils to build up better attacking moves but fails to really provide anything on the defensive side.
The Red Devils’ Champions League qualification dreams ended after the dismal draw against the relegation contenders, and there’s only a Europa League spot and the FA Cup to fight for in May.
