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"You'd have no fear" | Kilbane on Manchester United & their midfield frailties

Despite securing a 4-0 opening day win over Chelsea, for large parts of the first half Manchester...



Soccer

"You'd have no fear" | Kilbane on Manchester United & their midfield frailties

Despite securing a 4-0 opening day win over Chelsea, for large parts of the first half Manchester United were overrun by Chelsea's midfield.

Speaking to Off The Ball, Kevin Kilbane said the result did not tell the whole story of the game, in particular it highlighted a number of deficiencies in their midfield.

"If you’re looking at that midfield with McTominay, Pereira and Pogba and you are coming up against them as one of the top class sides then you would have no fear.

“I think I said it to you before the game yesterday I wouldn’t have any fear if you’re a mid-table Premier League side or even a lower-ranked one.”

“You would think ‘I fancy it against these there’s no problem," Kilbane said.

Solskjaer decided to go with younger players in midfield yesterday choosing Scott McTominay and Andreas Pereira over Nemanja Matic or Juan Mata.

Kilbane does not believe that the combination worked for Manchester United.

More problems

“Ultimately though, United’s midfield was lacking yesterday - particularly in the first half they didn’t get on the ball enough.

“After the game, Solskjaer said ‘Job done, we won 4-0 what more can I ask?’ Realistically there were a lot more problems with that performance," the former Ireland international said.

While their midfield may have been a big issue for them, Kilbane thought their defence stood up to the task.

In particular, he was impressed with the performance of United's newest signing Harry Maguire.

"That is a big thing for him, coming in with that price tag on your head and you start to do things that don't come naturally to you.

"It was an absolutely flawless performance from him the way he went about it he didn't over-elaborate with passing he got it and gave it.

"A lot of the time as well he didn't try to be too fanciful with clearances he just put his head to it, sometimes he just put it into the stand," Kilbane said.

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