In a week filled with high-stakes football, it was Arsene Wenger’s scathing commentary on Manchester United’s recruitment strategy that caught my attention.
Following United’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City, the iconic former Arsenal manager pulled no punches in his assessment of United’s “individual quality.”
Arsene Wenger, the legendary former Arsenal manager, delivered a scathing critique of Manchester United‘s recent recruitment strategies.
His comments followed United’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City in the latest iteration of the Manchester derby.
Wenger highlighted the disparity in “individual quality” between the two teams and argued that not a single player from United would make it into City’s first XI.
Speaking on beIN Sports, Wenger stated: “For me [the fact that no United players get in City’s team] sums it up. Usually in the big games and big derbies we’d say, ‘I take three or four or five [from one team] and three or four [from the other]’. Here you see the problem of Man United.”
Manchester United’s defeat at Old Trafford was comprehensive, with Erling Haaland scoring twice and Phil Foden adding a third for City.
The first goal came from a penalty after United’s summer signing Rasmus Hojlund was adjudged to have fouled Rodri by this week’s rules.
Wenger lambasted United’s performance, suggesting that they had failed in executing the basics.
“Where Man United suffers a lot first of all it’s about individual quality of the players,” said Wenger.
“I felt today they were very poor building up from the back. They gave so many times the ball to the goalkeeper when they had the possibility to play forward.
“I would say it started there, and then you make the whole team uncertain and lacking in confidence, because then you feel the fear. They don’t want the ball.
“The second part of the problem was the distances between the strikers and the defenders. It was huge. There were situations where the strikers were closing down trying to pressure and the defenders were 20 metres behind the halfway line.
“You cannot win the ball back against a team like Man City when your distances are too big. The team wasn’t compact enough.”
Erik ten Hag, Manchester United‘s manager, insisted that his team was going in the “right direction” despite the defeat marking their fifth loss in the Premier League this season.
However, Wenger’s remarks echoed the growing sentiment that United are lagging behind their rivals in the crucial aspects of football management, including recruitment and tactical preparedness.
While the defeat leaves Manchester United struggling to maintain a place in the top half of the Premier League table, Manchester City’s win has closed the gap on league leaders Tottenham to just two points.
Meanwhile, Arsenal also narrowed their points difference with Tottenham following their win over Sheffield United, adding a positive note for Wenger’s former club in a week that has largely focused on United’s failings.