Retired Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves praised Ruben Amorim’s tactics in what was a heavily competitive 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.
After Christian Eriksen explained in an on-pitch interview that it would take time for Amorim to get things right at Man United, particularly with a long list of injuries, Hargreaves seemed largely agreeable.
“I think Christian understands that,” Hargreaves replied when it was mentioned that United players generally aren’t given a lot of time to produce good results, particularly after what has been a challenging season.
“That’s probably why he came out, he’s probably one of the best talkers, I think,” Hargreaves continued.
“And I think, also, that Ruben probably relied on his experience, Casemiro’s experience – I thought he did well in there today – Bruno playing in centre-mid. I think he looked at those guys and said, ‘right: let’s be solid, let’s defend deeper, be strong in the middle of the park.”
Hargreaves continued: “Obviously, with Garnacho on the right hand side, I thought he was terrific and Mazraoui especially in the second half. They had a game plan and, you know, you have to say it came off. Credit to the manager and the players.”
Upon acknowledging that United lacked possession or control of the game, Hargreaves did not appear concerned. In fact, he felt as if Amorim’s strategy was fit for purpose.
Speaking about the upcoming game against Real Sociedad, Hargreaves expressed confidence in United’s ability to win.
“They probably have the best squad in there,” he declared. “So why not?”
Looking ahead at Thursday night’s clash, Hargreaves offered some advice to Amorim.
“Don’t try dominate the games. Play on the counter,” the former UEFA Champions League winner advised. “You’ve got the players who defend well. You’ve got players at the top of the pitch who can win the game.”
Ultimately, Hargreaves’ comments make sense, especially when it is glaringly evident how United proved to be highly effective against Arsenal with limited exposure on the ball.
Hopefully, Amorim can build on this positive performance in what will be a crucial Europa League clash at Old Trafford this week.
Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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Mathew Cohen
A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.
