Olympics legend and Manchester United fan Usain Bolt says he is getting ‘stressed out’ by the team’s defence and claims some players ‘don’t know how to defend one-on-one’.
After a disastrous start to his tenure at Old Trafford, United’s form is picking up under Ruben Amorim, with the team unbeaten in five games.
They go into the international break seventh in the Premier League table but ought to be higher having been the better side in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham.
The team is still very much a work in progress, especially defensively having kept just one clean sheet in 12 games this season, conceding 20 goals.
Bolt, a life-long supporter of the Red Devils, was so appalled by what he saw against Spurs that he sent a voice note to legendary United defender Rio Ferdinand criticising the centre-backs.
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‘I just watched the United game. One of our biggest problems is when we invite pressure to ourselves,’ an exasperated Bolt said in the message which was played on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
‘The first goal that they scored against us, Leny Yoro came out, the guy’s [Wilson Odobert] back is turned. Instead of pressing him so he would pass the ball back, he just turned and ran back into defence.
‘They’re always running back. All we do is invite pressure.
‘Please, I’m begging you, man. Please get to the team and say something. You are one of the greatest Manchester United defenders we had.
‘Please, bro. It’s stressing me out. And I know you have nothing to do with this, but tell the guys to pass the ball quicker. They pass the ball like… Oh my God. I’m sorry. I’m venting to you, bro.’
‘They don’t know how to defend one-on-one. Luke Shaw is the only one that seems like he understands,’ Bolt, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter, continued.
‘All they know is system, line up and play well. That’s all they know. They don’t know to step up, push the defender a little, pass the ball back down and then you go back into your line.
‘This is why you have each other. You play for each other. So, if I push up, the midfield slots in. Please man, please Rio, get to somebody please.’
Ferdinand did not agree with Bolt entirely however, singling out one United defender for praise: ‘He’s got a couple of points there, but I think the only one I really back him on is the passing the ball quicker.
‘I saw Ruben Amorim talk about it the other day. He wants the defenders especially to pass the ball around quicker, recycling it quicker, be a bit more assertive.
‘The jumping out defensively, Luke Shaw does it but I think our best one who’s done it this year is [Matthijs] De Ligt. De Ligt has been really good at it, he’s shown the way the manager wants him to do it.
‘He’s been aggressive, he’s been on the front foot. There were times in the game against Spurs where it didn’t work and it wasn’t working as a cohesive unit.
‘But it’s going to happen again. We’re still in this rebuilding phase and we’ve got to manage the expectations of the fans.’
Bolt and Ferdinand will be hoping that United get back to winning ways after the international break when they take on Everton on November 24.
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