NEMANJA VIDIC HAS urged Manchester United to develop a winning mentality within the squad, insisting that they must not accept a defeat, or even a draw, as being good enough.
The Red Devils were beaten 1-0 at home by bottom of the table West Brom on Sunday, a result that confirmed Manchester City as 2017-18 Premier League champions.
And Vidic was not impressed with what he saw at Old Trafford, making it known that he wants to see the United players show more desire, energy and speed of movement.
He told Sky Sports: “Today they didn’t show what we expected, the energy going forward, that burst or sprint. It was too slow, which was disappointing.
“That is my worry, I’d like to see United playing faster, quicker with the ball. It’s too many touches, that’s the problem, especially against smaller teams.
“They have a good team, good players, but sometimes I think the players have to show desire, show energy, run more than other teams.
“They didn’t move well without the ball, they didn’t move fast. The players didn’t perform the way they wanted.
“It’s sad to see Man United lose at home to West Brom, a team who have won just three games all season.”
Vidic won five league titles during his time as a Manchester United player, as well as the Champions League in 2008, and the Serb emphasised how important it is to generate a winning mentality within the camp.
“It hurts [losing to West Brom], because United need a good spirit ahead of the Tottenham match [FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday], an important match,” he added.
“It seems like he is saying there is a problem with mentality in the players. I think the Man United players know every game is important and they have to win.
“You play for Man United, it’s not acceptable to draw or lose, always you have a high expectancy.
“We won the Champions League and we didn’t celebrate. We had two hours of celebration, go on holiday, and the manager was thinking: ‘Who will we bring in next season to compete?’”
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Oh how I pine for a defender like him in the team again. It’s going to be a long while yet, a lot of money and dare I say a different manager before united win the league again.
@a.odonovan.tri: it seems to that large amounts of money brings these “ball playing” centre backs though, it’s almost as if the hard edged battering rams like Vidic are very cheap and overlooked by managers for top teams.
Vidic has hit the nail on the head. Everything is done at pedestrian pace. No energy, no desire, no burst of pace. Passes to players out wide should be played at pace in front off the player so he can run onto it without breaking stride. This should be a given at every club at PL level but quite often passes are hit too slow, or even left short, giving defenders enough time to get back. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, one of the main culprits for this is Pogba who ponces around like he’s playing 5-a-side. Lack of desire is a serious accusation to level at any team so a lot of United’s players need to take a long hard look at themselves.
There is no Roy Keane’s around anymore.Since he and Scholes (maybe Beckham, Giggs as well), left the heart and soul of the club has gone.
@running man: they won 5 league titles and a European cup after keane left