Manchester United's performance in their recent match against Chelsea has drawn criticism from former captain Gary Neville. The Red Devils failed to impress during the high-profile game, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Neville singled out first-team stars Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho for their lackluster work ethic.
The reins at Old Trafford have been temporarily handed over to Ruud van Nistelrooy, with Ruben Amorim set to take over as head coach soon. Van Nistelrooy faced a challenging visit from Chelsea on Sunday, following United's Carabao Cup victory against Leicester on Wednesday.
The match was tense and neither side managed to dominate – a fact reflected in the final scoreline. Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock for Manchester United on 70 minutes after Rasmus Hojlund was fouled by Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. However, Moises Caicedo equalized for Chelsea just four minutes later with a low volley.
Lack of work rate and attacking edge
Neville, who provided co-commentary for Sky Sports during the match, expressed his disappointment with some of the United players' efforts. He specifically called out Rashford and Garnacho not only for their lack of attacking edge but also their poor work rate and failure to track back.
Manchester United legend, Gary Neville, said:
“So, there's an enthusiasm towards them. Obviously now Rashford's been in the team for a good few years and Garnacho for a couple of years or so. But, when I watch [Bukayo] Saka and [Leandro] Trossard and [Gabriel] Martinelli [playing for Arsenal ], and when I watch Bernardo Silva and [Phil] Foden for Man City, or I watch players at Liverpool, I watch them all scurrying back, harassing back and doubling up with real intent.
“But I've watched [Malo] Gusto run forward on that far side... we couldn't believe how much space he got [in the game against Chelsea]. The first ethic is that you have to work hard. I'm not saying that Garnacho and Rashford do not work hard, but they can work harder. I know that. That's in their defensive work - which then, I think, gives you the reward in your attacking play.”
Despite having six shots between them, neither Rashford nor Garnacho made any interceptions or tackles during the game – an observation that perhaps underscores Neville’s point about their subpar performance.
Call for improvement
Gary Neville's critique serves as a wake-up call for Manchester United's first-team stars Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. Their performance in the Chelsea fixture was found wanting both offensively and defensively - an area they must improve upon if they are to contribute effectively towards future games under incoming head coach Ruben Amorim.
The 1-1 draw against Chelsea, while not a loss, was a missed opportunity for Manchester United to assert their dominance. The team will need to reflect on this performance and work on
