27 February 2024 , 11:34
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Jamie Carragher has delivered a scathing assessment of Erik ten Hag's tactics following Manchester United's 2-1 defeat to Fulham over the weekend.
United had won five games in a row heading into the fixture, with Alex Iwobi's late winner handed them their first defeat of 2024. The result means United now sit eight points off the top four and Carragher has highlighted an issue with the way the team set up against Fulham which he noticed just 20 seconds after kick-off.
The former Liverpool defender pinpointed the amount of space between the defence and midfield as a "massive problem" for the Red Devils as the lack of pace in both areas means they are "poor defensively and can't cope with counter-attacks".
Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Carragher said: "I want to highlight Mainoo, who has been fantastic since he came in, but the problem I have - it's not a criticism of him - what are his instructions before the game?
"This is straight from kick-off, he is not sure whether he should close down the holding midfield player or looking at the number 10, he's caught, straight from kick-off - you should know your jobs straight from kick-off and that's down to the coaching staff.
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"Twenty seconds into the game against Fulham, it's been the problem for Manchester United all season, there's space between the back four and the midfield. We go to the reason why they're poor defensively and can't cope with counter-attacks, they've got no pace at the back and a lack of legs in midfield.
"People say: 'there's no patterns of play at Manchester United, how do they play and what's the philosophy?' I'll tell you why there's no patterns of play and why they get done on the counter-attack, the positions they find themselves in.
"When Varane is on the ball, you've got you right-back, he can't receive a pass, Mainoo - your central midfield player - he's on the last line, that can't be right - it's not right. Bruno Fernandes, on the last line, playing like a striker, he's a number 10, Victor Lindelof can't receive the ball, the players can't receive the ball in the positions they pick.
"There's a massive problem for Manchester United when they're on the ball... how many times do you see players running back 40 yards towards goal."
United will be back in action on Wednesday when they face Nottingham Forest in the fifth round of the FA Cup, before they travel to the Emirates on Sunday to take on local rivals Manchester City.
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