Micah Richards slams Erik ten Hag’s tactics for leaving young Manchester United star ‘exposed’
'Man Utd are just missing that identity in how they want to approach games for different opponents.'
Micah Richards says he ‘feels sorry’ for young Manchester United star Willy Kambwala who has been left ‘exposed’ by Erik ten Hag’s tactics.
United were poor again as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth last Saturday, a result that leaves the club at least 10 points off Champions League qualification with just six games to go.
Yet again, the Red Devils were too easy to play against and while the players can share some blame, increasingly it is Ten Hag’s tactical set-up – or perhaps lack of – that is taking heavy criticism.
Richards, who previously singled Diogo Dalot out for criticism after the draw, agrees that the side’s lack of identity is hurting them, and believes that their lack of midfield structure is having a knock on effect on the rest of the team.
‘Man United’s midfield don’t seem to be working together. They are working hard, it’s a tactical thing,’ the Manchester City icon said on The Rest is Football podcast.
‘[Kobbie] Mainoo’s very good now, he’s more than just a No.6, he’s a No.8 who can get into the box and sometimes him and [Bruno] Fernandes become on the same line.
‘Casemiro – fantastic player – doesn’t have the legs he used to where he could just dominate a midfield by himself. He needs a little bit of help.
‘Fernandes and Mainoo will press and that leaves a big massive gap and Casemiro has to go engage and then Kambwala, 19 years of age, is exposed. I feel a little bit sorry for Kambwala.
‘He’s a good player, did very well in the Liverpool game, but at that age, away from home you just need a little more structure. Man United are just missing that identity in how they want to approach games for different opponents.’
Kambwala has been thrown into the deep end this season thanks to United’s defensive injury crisis and with the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane not expected back for a while, he’ll have a few more tricky tests in the next couple of weeks.
With results and performances not up to scratch, Ten Hag is now hanging onto his job by a thread, with United’s new co-owners widely tipped to sack the manager, with several players expecting him to be leaving Old Trafford in the summer.
Thankfully for the Dutchman, he has some favourable fixtures up next which could see a turnaround in form, with an FA Cup semi-final against Championship Coventry, followed by home clashes against the Premier League’s bottom sides Sheffield United and Burnley.
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