INTERVIEW: Erik ten Hag has put all of his trust into the likes of Raphael Varane and Diogo Dalot, but Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes there could still be space for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Ten Hag has sparingly used Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Image: Sky Sports)
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Aaron Wan-Bissaka still has a future at Old Trafford.
The £50million right back has been out of favour for the large part of Erik ten Hag’s reign at the club. While the Englishman has played the full 90 minutes in United’s last three Premier League matches, Ten Hag appears to prefer Portuguese full back Diogo Dalot to anchor the right side of his defence.
Wan-Bissaka’s absence from the first team squad has prompted speculation linking him with a move to Wolves and an emotional return to Crystal Palace. However, Ferdinand believes the 25-year-old, who has previously been described as ‘the best one-on-one defender in the world, can still play a huge role for the Red Devils.
“Yeah there is something there,” Ferdinand said on behalf of BT Sport. “The manager has obviously put his trust in Dalot on what he has seen on the training ground.
“I still stand by that (Wan-Bissaka being the best one-on-one defender in world football). I said the same thing he is not the best defender but he is the best one v one defender. If you had a job to do on a wide man one v one, I would pick him over every single right back around.
Ferdinand does not believe Wan-Bissaka’s Old Trafford course has been ran yet (Image: C1 Media)
Wan-Bissaka is creeping back into Ten Hag’s plans
“But obviously here are other elements of his game that aren’t as good as other players. You have to give him credit because his nose has been put out of joint, he was the one with the shirt and the manager has come in and said ‘you are not the guy any more’, but when he has come in he has looked solid enough and that’s the attitude you want.”
Wan-Bissaka had only played four minutes of Premier League football before the World Cup. It is a huge drop in appearances, considering the huge role he played under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
However, the United legend still thinks he can make the same contributions as some other United defenders of the past. “When I played there were players who didn’t play every week,” Ferdinand added.
“John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Jonny Evans etc – but when called upon they came in and gave top performances and that is down to professionalism and the culture at the club.
Man Utd struggler Harry Maguire told he isn’t too good for Villa after transfer link
INTERVIEW: Manchester United defender Harry Maguire may have enjoyed a very good World Cup for England but the £85million man still has many skeptics to win over
Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott believes Harry Maguire is not too good for Aston Villa.
The Manchester United captain has only started one Premier League match since he returned from the World Cup. Maguire was one of the Three Lions’ best players in Qatar, yet United manager Erik ten Hag has preferred to deploy an out-of-position Luke Shaw in the middle of the park instead.
The £80m man was heavily linked with a move to Aston Villa with various reports even claiming a move had been agreed between the former Leicester City man and the Midlanders. And Lescott believes the powerful central defender is not too good or too big for a move to Villa Park.
“I don’t want to sound disrespectful to him or the club, but baring the top five or six teams at the moment, the level is pretty similar,” Lescott said on behalf of BT Sports when asked if Maguire is now operating at Villa’s level. “Anyone can finish anywhere.
“So, in regards to, if you’re looking at that club, it’s a massive club. So if he was linked with them and he was to play for Aston Villa, it’s a huge club.
Harry Maguire was heavily linked with a move to Villa Park (Image: Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Lescott believes a move to Villa might be good for Maguire
“But if you’re going off the level of where they are in the table, I think it’s unfair to judge them and him, potentially, going there on that because that could change within two to three games. They could be a couple points off Europe or fighting relegation within weeks, because that’s the nature of the Premier League.
“So, in regards to him going there and that being his level, I think it’s an unfair assessment. It doesn’t just mean he is an average player or they are an average team, it just means either the teams that are at the top, it’s pretty similar elsewhere, and I’m sure he’s focused.”
Reports from talkSPORT claimed Maguire was on his way to Villa Park. And while Maguire may depart United feeling disappointed about his time on the red side of Manchester, Lescott does not believe the central defender will have to worry about his place in the England squad.
“If he does choose to leave, it’s ‘how do I maintain my England position?’ And it’s proven that, regardless of where you’re playing, as long as you’re performing well you can play for England.”
Source: dailystar.co.uk
