Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand dissected the club’s performance in their season opener against Arsenal as the former defender highlighted captain Bruno Fernandes’ ‘problem’.
The Gunners edged out the Red Devils in the first match of the season after Riccardo Calafiori took advantage of a blunder from Altay Bayindir and scored the solitary goal early in the game.
New signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha featured in the starting lineup on their competitive debuts for United, while Benjamin Sesko was introduced in the second half.
Mbeumo and Cunha showed promise in the very first game of the season but a blunder from Bayindir cost the Red Devils three important points at home.
At the end of the game, ex-Red Devils and England defender Ferdinand analysed the performance of Ruben Amorim’s players, while pointing out captain Fernandes’ main ‘problem’ in the match.
Ferdinand also spoke highly of United’s physical presence and their pace.
The 46-year-old took to X and wrote:
“Man Utd v Arsenal. Most dominate performance I’ve seen us play in long time vs a top team – despite losing.
“Positives: A threat physically. Pace. Cunha & Mbuemo very lively.
“Have willing runners in possession and on transitions.
“Saw some patterns in possession that bode well for future – Time on training ground showing.
“Negatives: Cheap goal, GK gotta do better.
“Be aggressive in transitions if Bruno playing deeper.
“1st thought to creep forward… lapses in concentration may be a problem against the better and more physical teams. Didn’t flood the box enough at times (however, Sesko may change this).
Read more: Amorim Snaps Back In Defence Of Bayindir
Amorim will surely work on fixing the negatives in the team that he saw against Arsenal and aim to bounce back with a win next week, as they take on Fulham away from home on August 24.
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