Simon Jordan claims there are ‘too many big time Charlies in this Manchester United team’ and says Harry Maguire ‘is not Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic’ after another disappointing performance against Atletico Madrid
Simon Jordan claims there are ‘too many big time Charlies in the Manchester United team’, while hitting out at Red Devils captain Harry Maguire.
A lot of criticism was aimed at the United players during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s reign in charge, and that has continued since interim boss Ralf Rangnick took over in November.
Former players and pundits alike have questioned the mentality and work ethic of the current crop of playing staff, and there has even been question marks over the dressing room and captaincy role.
The senior players have come under more scrutiny in recent weeks following the emergence of 19-year-old Anthony Elanga.
talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan blasted the current situation at the club and insisted the big names need to stand up and be counted, take more responsibility for United’s downfall and rely less on a teenager.
“When you look at it, it was only a few years ago when Marcus Rashford was basically the mirror image of this boy – fresh, enthusiastic, motivated, brave”, Jordan said.
“You’ve got to look at this environment at Manchester United and say what is so corrosive and so toxic, for want of a better word, that it pollutes these players? Is it the expectation of Manchester United?
“Is the fact they can’t get consistency, is it three years of lackadaisical management under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? Is it an interim manager coming in they don’t respond to?
“It’s quite a disparaging comment from Rangnick, to say ‘maybe some of the other players should play that way too [after Elanga’s performance against Atletico].
“This is what people are saying about Manchester United – there are too many big time Charlies in that Manchester United dressing room, who think that because they are playing for Manchester United it is the end of the journey.”
Jordan’s comments come after Elanga impressed and netted the equaliser for the Red Devils in the 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Spain on Wednesday.
The Sweden youth international is becoming an increasingly important player at United, especially with the likes of Jadon Sancho and Rashford not having the best of seasons.
“I wish a few other players would take Elanga as a role model,” said the boss, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano after the match.
“He is simply living the dream. He was the player with the best training performance, and he’d already decided to leave on loan. I told him I want him to stay. He has a great approach, really.”
Maguire has been slated on several occasions by furious Red Devils supporters after the draw, and now faces the wraith of talkSPORT’s Jordan.
“If you look back at previous classes of Man United players, they would be embarrassed to be associated with the same group of players that are here now, because they don’t reflect,” Jordan added.
“You don’t look at the captain Harry Maguire and go there is Jaap Stam or Rio Ferdinand’s replacement, you don’t look at it in that respect, or Nemanja Vidic.
“You look and go, ‘Jeez’, and that is the criticism he [Maguire] gets.
“You look at some of the players that are out there, because United were not good last night [against Atletico Madrid]. They were poor at times.”
talkSPORT host Jim White responded: “What does it tell us that Manchester United are relying on a 19-year-old to dig them out? What about the others?”
“Well,” said Jordan. “Manchester United – from the days of Brian Kidd, George Best, to the Class of 92 – this is part and parcel of their DNA. They have always gone to young players. They are part of the mix because they have the talent, the bravery and the unbridled joy of arriving at the scene.
“But there are other players out there who could do better.
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“Can you put this Manchester United team against Man City or Liverpool? No, they’re a mile off. They would be mullered by Man City and Liverpool in the Champions League.”
Maguire and his teammates face a tough task at Old Trafford against Diego Simeone’s in three weeks time in the return leg of their Champions League clash.
Before then, Rangnick’s side face Watford at Old Trafford, take on Manchester City in the derby, before hosting Tottenham.
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February 25, 2022 at 01:09PM Premier League Football Fixtures and Results - talkSPORT https://ift.tt/YRpbhGu
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