Former Man Utd star Gordon Strachan has launched a savage attack on the current squad, accusing them of being more interested in social media than winning matches
Manchester United’s players have been accused of being more interested in social media and the trappings of stardom that winning matches and trophies.
Former United midfielder Gordon Strachan launched a savage attack on the current squad, claiming they lack a winning mentality and do not have what it takes to play for such an elite club.
Ruben Amorim’s woeful side are currently down in 13th place in the Premier League, with their only hope of securing European football next season by winning the Europa League.
Strachan, who spent five years at Old Trafford as a player, said United’s current players are more interested in flaunting their wealth and status on Instagram than helping to make the club great again.
“There’s no players spreading a winning mentality,” Strachan told GentingCasino. “They’ve been spreading Instagram. I know what they’re doing, I know what clothes they’re wearing, I know what clubs they’re at. I can see what boat they’re on. But I don’t see any Premier League or Champions League medals.
“Over the last six years in particular, that winning culture has been eroded. United probably have a few people, good ones like Fernandes, who’s not the perfect captain but a good player, and he’s surrounded by this waste. For so many of them, it’s just been good enough to be a United player. That has to change.
“Where do you find these players and people? I really don’t know. Because there are probably a lot of people in that dressing room who are desperate to be led just now, because everybody can’t be a leader.
“Amorim and whoever is in charge of recruitment has to find the new ones. The club has always had win-at-all-costs players – Jaap Stam and Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo: it’s all about winning. I don’t think it’s all about winning at that club just now. It’s a culture that needs to change.
Amorim has refused to compromise on his 3-4-3 system, despite United having struggled to adapt to it, with Strachan suggesting the 40-year-old may have to be willing to change his approach, in the short-term at least.
“It’s not the same, but when I went to Middlesbrough, I tried to play the very same system that I did at Celtic,” said Strachan. “I didn’t have the players for that but I kept persevering, which didn’t help and doesn’t help the confidence in the club.
“So I can see similarities in that and he keeps playing this system. But you might not have players who are suited for that. That’s the thing I would say. If I was giving any advice, it would be – are you sure about this? He’s put his hat on it now.
“It’s like stubbornness. We’re stubborn, managers. There’s no doubt about that, but you might need a rethink. When I went to Coventry, I thought ‘Yeah, I’ve got this, I can do this.’ After five games I was like ‘I’m rotten at this.’
“Then my coaches said ‘Listen, why don’t we change it to three at the back and put Dion Dublin right in the middle?’ and we won four games on the trot.”
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