Former Chelsea manager warns Manchester Utd of ‘negative’ tactics

Former Chelsea manager, Glenn Hoddle, has warned that Manchester United fans will not be happy to watch their team play ‘negative’ football each week, after their defensive showing at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The Red Devils went to Chelsea with a midfield trio of Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay and Fred, while Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho played ahead of them.

Michael Carrick’s game plan of soaking up pressure, and hitting on the counter worked, as his side picked up a point against Chelsea. And while Hoddle believes it was necessary to defend, considering the form of the opposition, he warned that the fans will not support negative football week in, week out, when there’s rich attacking talent in the team.

He told Premier League Productions, “You can’t put a Manchester United team with the talent that’s in that squad.

“You can’t put a team out like that every week to win and to try to get up the league and to win league titles.

“Today, for me, Michael [Carrick] got it spot on – whoever picked the team for today’s performance got it spot on.

“Against Chelsea in the form they’re in, they’re a great side in a great run. They couldn’t come here today and be expansive but going forward I know Manchester United fans aren’t going to stand playing that way.

“There’s going to be games when they play that way and they’ll lose so it’s a stepping stone but it’s not a template for United to go forward.”