Rio Ferdinand believes the lack of imagination from Manchester United’s wingers is a huge problem that Erik ten Hag needs to fix as soon as possible.
United splashed out £73million on Jadon Sancho in the summer of 2021 before committing to paying Ajax a fee which could reach £85.5m for Antony before the start of the current campaign. Both have some glimpses of this undoubted talent, with Antony scoring three goals in four league appearances and Sancho netting twice, but neither player has recorded an assist yet this season.
Sancho and Antony started alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in United’s Premier League game against Newcastle on Sunday. Ten Hag’s side drew a blank, mustering just two shots on target as the team struggled to create much in the final third.
Ronaldo left the pitch frustrated with the lack of service before Marcus Rashford spurned two glorious chances late on. United legend Ferdinand has pointed the finger at the wingers, who he believes need to play more positively, take chances and get crosses into the box.
“We don't seem to have the imagination in those areas,” he said on his FIVE YouTube channel before pointing to how former players like Nani, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Antonio Valencia, or Cristiano Ronaldo in his first spell at the club, used to operate.
“At the moment we get in those positions and unfortunately for us, our wide players are turning away from that, they're not killing full-backs, they're not skinning them.
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“The best teams, the winners, get teams one-versus-one, they wait for that moment in the game. They might only get two or three moments in a game where they stand that full-back up one-versus-one.”
Ferdinand believes that Antony and Sancho need to take a leaf out of Bukayo Saka’s book, with the England star in fantastic form for Arsenal at the moment. Although he is a left-footer playing on the right wing, Saka still mixes up his game by taking on the full-back on the outside.
“Saka does it as well as anyone at the moment in the league,” Ferdinand added. “They get the full-back one-versus-one and they say, ‘right, I'm going to ghost you.’ At the moment, our wide players aren't doing that.
“Parts of their game are working functionally, other than the City game, defensively they're doing well. But when we have the ball and we want them to do that bit of cherry on the top, that stuff, we aren't getting that right now.
“It's what you need sometimes, to create that space and all of a sudden you're behind their defence and, all of a sudden, the likes of Marcus Rashford and Cristiano can come alive and get you goals, or Bruno [Fernandes] comes in late.”
United will have a chance to put Ferdinand’s suggestions into practice on Wednesday night when they host Tottenham at Old Trafford. Ten Hag’s side are fifth in the Premier League, having won five of their nine matches so far.
