Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Manchester United have to invest in their squad once again if they are to catch rivals Manchester City.
The former Aston Villa striker was left seriously disappointed with United after their timid display during the 1-1 draw with AC Milan in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
Getty Images - Getty
Despite being second best for much of Thursday’s last-16 first leg, the Red Devils looked set to head to San Siro next week in the driving seat thanks to teenage substitute Amad Diallo’s first goal for the club.
The 18-year-old became the club’s fourth youngest European goalscorer thanks to his superb, improvised header – a fine effort that was cancelled out deep in stoppage time.
United’s soft underbelly from set pieces was exposed when Simon Kjaer met a corner with a header that Dean Henderson will be frustrated not to have kept out as the first leg ended 1-1.
And Agbonlahor criticised the Red Devils for treating the clash with the Serie A side ‘like a friendly’.
Getty Images - Getty
He said: “I think you see how they are playing against Manchester City; right from the first second of the game, pressing high, scoring an early goal and having a couple of chances.
“Then you see them tonight and you think, ‘Did they not think tonight was a big game?’
“They treated it like it was a friendly, there was no one really at it in the first half. I know they were missing the energy of Fred and Rashford and Luke Shaw at left-back.
“But, for me, it was a poor performance for most of the game and I think they are going to regret giving that away goal to AC Milan because I thought AC Milan were excellent.
“They’re better than what I thought, because I’ve not really watched them much this season. It’s going to be a tough return leg for Manchester United.”
AFP or licensors
Rivals Man City are closing in on yet another Premier League title, with the chance to win an unprecedented quadruple a real possibility for Pep Guardiola.
Conversely, United can only hope for second place at best in the Premier League and face Leicester City in the FA Cup as well as having to beat Milan in the second leg next week if they want to win silverware.
In his two years at Old Trafford, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has failed to bring a trophy to the club and has spent almost £300million in his bid to arrest the lack of silverware.
Yet Agbonlahor believes there may be some outgoings first, citing Daniel James as a prime example.
AFP or licensors
“For Manchester United, their starting 11 is fantastic,” he added. “But look at Manchester City, for instance.
“Look at yesterday; they’ve got Mahrez, they’ve got Foden, you’ve got Torres on the bench, you’ve got Sterling on the bench.
“They’ve got that many options that when they rest any of their players, the team is just as strong. But Manchester United can’t do that, that’s the difference.
“So Manchester United need to spend some money and make their bench much stronger than it is because the likes of Greenwood struggled on the right.
“Matic struggled; Daniel James is not Manchester United quality, for me. He’s a decent player, but he’s not going to win a title for Manchester United.
“So that’s the big thing for me that Manchester United need to invest in.”
from Football - news, transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures https://ift.tt/3cpKqJm
via IFTTT
No Comment