Football pundit Paul Merson has voiced serious concerns about the current state of Manchester United, expressing deep worry about the club’s trajectory.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Merson painted a bleak picture of United’s situation, stating, “I’m worried for Manchester United. I really, really, really worry for them. They’re a million miles off it and I don’t see when that’s going to change.”
Merson attributed United’s struggles to a series of poor transfer decisions over the past four to five years. “It is a payback for the terrible signings they have made over the last 4 or 5 years,” he asserted.
He specifically addressed the role of Bruno Fernandes, acknowledging his talent but questioning his suitability for a central midfield role in a two-man setup. “I don’t mind Fernandes, he will always try to get on the ball. His goal was very good but he’s not a centre-midfield player in a two. I don’t get that.”
Merson criticized the team’s tactical approach, emphasizing the importance of playing to the players’ strengths rather than the manager’s preferred style. “You have to play to the strength of the players and not the strength of yourself. At the moment, this isn’t working. It’s a fact.”
He then referenced Ruben Amorim, highlighting the adaptability of top managers. “Ruben Amorim is only young but top managers are adaptable and work out what they need to do. I’ve seen Jose Mourinho make a substitution after 20 minutes.” Merson suggested that United’s current manager is not demonstrating this adaptability.
In conclusion, Merson described the situation at Manchester United as a “big mess” and expressed uncertainty about when the club’s fortunes might change. He feels that the current tactical setup is not working, and that the manager needs to be more adaptable.
