09 February 2023 , 06:43
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Michael Owen took aim at Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Raphael Varane after they almost contributed to a third Leeds goal on Wednesday night.
The Whites took a point away from Old Trafford, but may feel aggrieved they didn't take all three after leading 2-0 on the hour mark. Rashford pulled one back, but then made a glaring error that wasn't punished before Jadon Sancho levelled the contest upon his return.
Brendon Aaronson struck the post with Leeds 2-1 up, but his effort owed itself to a major split in the United defensive wall. Rashford and Varane both split and turned their backs, leaving a notable void in the four-man wall, which was almost exploited by the visitors with David de Gea rooted to the spot.
Owen highlighted the error and told Premier League Productions : "I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe this wall. Look a this the way they split – Varane and Rashford they just split – the ball goes low, right through the middle, it didn’t go over the wall at all. If that goes in, and they both turn away, that’s criminal, that’s criminal.
"I mean, if that goes in there’s serious, serious words being had after. You simply cannot do that. You need to be big, brave and bold in a wall and to turn your back and split – everything you cannot do they did there. They’ve got away with it. They better look at that and think, ‘wow, that’s pretty embarrassing, we can’t do that again’."
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Leeds' point comes just days after they sacked Jesse Marsch following a poor run of results. The Yorkshire outfit have yet to appoint a permanent successor as a three-man interim team led them - and could do so when the Red Devils head to Yorkshire this weekend.
Marcus Rashford and Raphael Varane split in the Man Utd wall (Sky Sports)United's stalemate means they've only won one of their last four games as they begun their period without the suspended Casemiro. Sancho's strike in front of the Stretford End to level the game marked his return to action after a spell away, which Owen believes will do the winger the world of good.
"This will do him so much confidence, beating players, scoring a goal, having a big influence on getting back into the game," he added. "We’ve seen it before, mostly in Germany, but in the Premier League that’s the acid test. I think he’s good enough, I think he can make a big impression, I think he can have a great career, it’s been a stuttering start.
"I think the difference between these confidence players, these wide, attacking players, that need to feel loved, that need to feel confident, when you come into a team that’s really struggling, I don’t care if you’re on a high, if the other 10 players are struggling at the time, it’s so hard to make an impression."