Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has blasted Joshua Zirkzee’s role in his former side’s last-gasp chance at Anfield.
The Red Devils played incredibly well to get a 2-2 draw at Anfield versus Liverpool but the result could have been even better after Harry Maguire spooned over a chance from close range in the last kick of a pulsating match.
Whilst it is possible a goal may not have stood due to it looking offside, it was a huge let off for the Anfield side.
Of course blame will fall on Maguire for missing such a clear-cut chance to score a winner at Anfield that he will likely never have again.
Nonetheless, the man who provided the pass has also taken on criticism for his role in the huge miss.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former defender laid into the quality of ball that Zirkzee played to Maguire in the dying embers of the match.
Speaking on the chance Rio claimed, “after all of it, I would have gone in the changing room and gone, ‘Bruv, what type of stupidness was that?! What type of pass was that?! We could have won the game!’.”
“But Zirkzee is lacking in confidence so he [Maguire] ain’t going to do that.”
“It’s detail, bro. You know what it’s like? Talk to somebody like you want to be talked to. Pass how you want to receive. Same thing.”
The Dutchman’s December started in the best possible way with two goals at home to Everton but ended in terrible fashion as he was jeered by his own fans after he left the pitch at Old Trafford at home to Newcastle United after just 33 minutes of action.
Since then, it has been reported that Zirkzee’s relationship with Ruben Amorim is at an “all-time low” and he looks to only have the fraction of the confidence he showed for Bologna in Serie A last season.
He has recently been linked to a move to Juventus where he would team up with his former boss Thiago Motta.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
