Alan Shearer has a pressing matter for Erik ten Hag to solve when he steps into the line of duty as Manchester United manager. Ten Hag will spend the remainder of this season chasing a third Eredivisie title with Ajax before he touches down at Old Trafford.
United continue to struggle before his arrival, slipping to a fourth straight away defeat against top-four rivals Arsenal on Saturday afternoon. The result means they are now almost certain to miss out on Champions League qualification. As far as Shearer is concerned, though, the United players were the architects of their own downfall at the Emirates.
Moving forward, the Premier League icon turned BBC Sport pundit says United have to establish an understanding of when and how to win the ball back. His tactical advice for Ten Hag came during a damning analysis piece for the Match of the Day team alongside host Gary Lineker.
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Speaking on a panel alongside fellow pundit Ian Wright, he said: "Pressing. They had no organisation and no pressing. The understanding of how or when to press is zero in this Manchester United team, probably because they can't do it or they are not working at it.
"Arsenal are so good at it [working the ball] and it was so easy for them. One goes and that's not good enough. If you go, you have got to go in fours and fives to try and hunt the ball back."
Shearer added: "It's far too easy and balls are played in behind. Arsenal were very good and sharp in their passing, but that all comes from standing off and allowing Arsenal to play. Crisp passing, but there is not an understanding there. It's all because they don't know how or when to go.
"They can't do it. What they are doing on the training ground, I don't know, because it doesn't look as though they are doing much in terms of their pressing because, as I said, they just don't know how to do it."
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