4 months ago
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MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville has highlighted one key area Erik ten Hag must fix.
The Dutchman won the FA Cup to save his job after a poor showing in the Premier League.
Gary Neville thinks Erik ten Hag has one major area to focus on
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"They were a mess everywhere!"
Gary Neville and Roy Keane say Manchester United have a lot to change this season 
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Ahead of tonight’s clash with Fulham, Neville branded the amount of shots United conceded last season a “massive embarrassment.”
Ten Hag opted for a 4-2-2-2 formation against the Cottagers in a bid to tighten things up.
And Sky Sports pundit Neville commented: “Manchester United had 670 shots on their goal last season.
“One shot on your goal should hurt you, 670 is a massive embarrassment and they’ve got to stop that.
“They were so exposed in midfield. They have narrowed the team. Whether it works or not.”
Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro are anchoring the engine room behind Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes, with Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo highest.
But Neville says a tweak in formation to fix a leaky midfield is far from United’s only problem.
He added: “They were a mess everywhere.
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“Injuries were a mess, the balance of the team was a mess, midfield was a mess, the amount of goals they conceded and shots they conceded, they didn’t score goals.
“There was very little right about Manchester United last season at all. The only positive was the FA Cup success.
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“They’ve got to change everything, it’s got to be so much better.”
In May, Ten Hag blamed injuries for his side’s defensive woes.
He told Sky Sports: “I see the stats and it’s clear.
“Last season, we had the consistent back four, we did the same and we had the most clean sheets in the Premier League.
“So when everyone is fit, they can deliver the way we want to defend, but it also has something to do with the possession.
Man Utd ratings vs Fulham as new boys shine... but Mount and Amad struggle
DEBUTANT Joshua Zirkzee was the hero for Manchester United in an evening where their new guns showed what they are all about.
The Dutchman had to remain patient for his opportunity but he took it brilliantly once he came on the pitch.
Zirkzee came on for Mason Mount on the hour mark and had been quiet up until his pivotal moment.
Ten Hag will take positives from the display and it was his astute sub which led to the winner as his side got their season off to a flyer.
Here is how SunSport’s Phil Thomas rated the Red Devils display…
Andre Onana – 6
Made an outstanding early tip over from Kenny Tete and was rarely seriously troubled beyond that.
Noussair Mazraoui – 7
A pretty impressive debut from the Moroccan. Looks assured on the ball, gets forward in support and can put a foot in.
Harry Maguire – 7
Dominant and commanding in defence, but embarrassingly booked for diving at the other end. Really Harry, even you?
Lisandro Martinez – 6
Skinned by Adama Traore early. Showed all his defensive guile in how he handled him after that, and got back superbly to deny a breakaway goal.
Diogo Dalot – 6
Had his hands full dealing with Traore’s pace, but knocked in a couple of wicked curling crosses at the other end.
Casemiro – 7
Headed over then shot over, but two great passes put Fernandes clean through. Often looked United’s most likely source of a goal.
Kobbie Mainoo – 8
So crisp, so tidy, so rarely wastes a pass. Another near-flawless, if not exactly flair-packed, display from the youngster. Fizzed a shot just wide, too.
Mason Mount – 5
So desperate to do well, which earned him an early booking. Only Leno’s legs denied him the goal his effort deserved.
Amad Diallo – 5
Made one marvellous mazy run into the box, although the tumble to ground that followed wasn’t so impressive.
Marcus Rashford – 6
Still nowhere near the star of two years ago, but another step in the right direction at least. Some way to get yet, though.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Fluffed two great chances, driving at keeper Leno’s legs twice when Casemiro put him through, but sprayed passes around and started the move for the winner.
Subs
Alejandro Garnacho (for Diallo, 60mins) – 6
Put a spark in United when he came off the bench and teed up the winner.
Joshua Zirkzee (for Mount, 60 mins) – 7
The debut he dreamed of. Barely had a touch, but then fed the ball wide and stuck out his left foot to jab the winner.
Matthijs de Ligt – (for Mazraoui, 81 mins) – 5
Was only on for the last ten minutes and looked solid although he did not have too much to do
Jonny Evans (for Maguire, 81 mins) – 5
Scott McTominay (for Mainoo, 84 mins) – 5
“When you don’t have the players at the back and the patterns, when you don’t have the left-footed players on the left side, you already have to make your adjustments.
“It changes your way of play, but also your possession and when you have less possession, you also have more shots.
“There are some reasons for why this happens, but I don’t think it has anything to do with the way we want to play because that proves it [last season], where we had the most clean sheets in the Premier League.”
New centre-back Leny Yoro has already been ruled out for months is a massive blow.
Noussair Mazraoui started at left-back against Fulham, with Matthijs de Ligt on the bench.
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