Rio Ferdinand feels that Erik ten Hag’s tactics of making Man United play a highly open, transition-based playing style is having a bad impact on the midfielders.
Speaking after the 2-2 draw against Liverpool, he said on his Vibe with Five podcast: “That type of football leads to seeing players at the worst at times.
“Casemiro, for all that he’s won and the great player that he’s been, he will look a worse player when the tactics are the way they are, when it’s open, transition football, when there’s big spaces around him.
“In that midfield, at times, another midfielder is 20 yards away, 30 yards away. That never happened at Real Madrid, so you don’t see his worst traits, which is his mobility.
“Same with Kobbie Mainoo, their worst traits are probably their mobility. So you do things with a structure of a team, so you don’t see that. We’re doing things that mean you’re going to see exactly their worst trait. It makes them look worse at times.”
Man United are often made to look even more open because of the high pressing techniques forced by the tactics, but this often allows opposition sides to bypass the midfield line and take easy shots on Andre Onana’s goal.
The Red Devils have faced over 300 shots in their last 14 games, which absolutely needs to improve for the club to win the FA Cup title and achieve a top-5 finish this season.
