As you probably know, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, also happens to be a huge Manchester United fan. This, combined with his willingness to speak his mind, often leads to some interesting soundbites. Such was the case recently, when he was asked to comment on the current state of The Red Devils.
Once the starter pistol had fired, Usain Bolt kicked off the proceedings by targeting Louis Van Gaal. Here’s what he had to say:
“From listening to the way he is, it doesn’t sound like he’s a guy you can talk to. For me, with teams… if you are going to implement a style I think you first have to work out if a team can handle it. I don’t think this passing method that he has is ever going to work for Manchester United. Unless he changes all the players.”
First things first, Usain Bolt notes that he’s not working on first hand evidence. He’s working from hearsay. As such, the ‘it doesn’t sound like he’s a guy you can talk to’ comments don’t sit well with me. I’d prefer that he stuck to the facts.
His comments about Van Gaal’s failure to implement a new style on this Manchester United team do ring true, however. He also took the time to single out some of The Red Devils big name stars. Here’s what he had to say:
“Mata is good but he’s too small. Rooney’s good but he plays a bit slow, and as a midfielder you’ve got to really move quickly. Like Hazard or some of the players for Arsenal.” (Source: The Metro)
That’s a fair point too. Can you picture Wayne Rooney playing in The Gunners’ midfield? Yes, he’s technically good, but he’s not quick or slick enough to play alongside footballers like Santi Cazorla or Mesut Ozil.
Mata’s height, on the other hand, is completely irrelevant. Eden Hazard isn’t the biggest footballer. Santi Cazorla’s even smaller. We shouldn’t expect any of these players to win too many physical battles. With the ball at their feet, however, they’re capable of producing good results.
Manchester United need to tap into Juan Mata’s latent ability if they’re ever going to get back to their best. Moreover, Louis Van Gaal needs to let up and demonstrate some flexibility. If he can’t do that, he could end up going the same way as David Moyes.
What’s your take? Do you agree with Usain Bolt’s criticism of Manchester United?
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he is right