Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince has hit out at Jose Mourinho for deploying Alexis Sanchez in a more restricted role.
Sanchez, 29, joined the ranks at Old Trafford in January but has so far failed to replicate the form that saw him clinch two ‘Player of the Season’ awards at Arsenal.
Why is Sanchez struggling? Five things to know
- Sanchez has seen his defensive duties skyrocket since joining the Red Devils, with the Chilean registering more successful tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes than at Arsenal last season.
- Towards the final months of his Arsenal career, Sanchez was averaging 4.1 shots per 90 minutes, but he is currently averaging just 2.3 per 90.
- Sanchez has netted just once this season and registered only two assists.
- The Chilean had gone over 900 minutes without scoring prior to his goal against Newcastle.
- Arsene Wenger believes his former talisman is struggling due to a lack of confidence.
The Red Devils produced a rather impotent and laboured performance at the weekend, firing a blank in their 0-0 stalemate with Crystal Palace. Sanchez could only muster a 20-minute cameo.
After the match, Mourinho hit out at his players for lacking heart, but Ince believes Mourinho is failing to accentuate the Chilean’s best assets by playing him in a more limited role.
“The fans booed at the end of the game and that is unlike Manchester United,” Ince said on Match of the Day 2, as quoted by Goal.
“We’re talking about United, no disrespect to Palace, but bringing on Fellaini before Sanchez, what is the plan?
“When United can’t score, bring Fellaini on, go long, Palace are set up for that. They are relying on luck, knockdowns.
“Paying Sanchez half a million pounds, and not to be a quarterback. Playing long ball.
“We don’t want him like that, we want him in the 18-yard area. Fans have been patient but I don’t see cohesion or how we are trying to play.”
‘Mourinho doesn’t know his best XI’
The Portuguese tactician has often tinkered with his tactics this season, with none of his forward players having registered more than 10 starts in the league so far.
Mourinho famously came in for criticism after deploying Ander Herrera in a defensive role during 3-0 capitulation against Spurs, while the Red Devils have used a different striker for the previous three matches.
As such, Ince has urged Mourinho to find his best XI in order to create more consistency around the club.
He added: “He changes it because he is unsure what his best XI is. He has changed it time and time again.
“After three years, and the money he has spent, he still doesn’t know. As a manager, to get cohesion and consistency, you have to say this is the XI I trust, barring injuries and suspensions.
“If they start doing that, they might start performing better.”
The post Paul Ince blasts Jose Mourinho for his use of Alexis Sanchez appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2KC5Hkz
No comments:
Post a Comment