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Rio Ferdinand wants the shackles taken off Scott McTominay after brace against Leeds
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand presents FIVE (h/t Metro), former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand mentioned that Scott McTominay should be played as a box-to-box midfielder.
United cruised to a 6-2 win against Leeds United in their Premier League game on Sunday. The match featured a sublime display from Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay.
The 24-year-old scored 2 goals within the opening 3 minutes of the match, before assisting Daniel James for United’s 5th.
McTominay has been utilised as a defensive midfielder by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. His imposing physique has made Solskjaer place him as a shield in front of his defence.
After the Scotsman’s stunning display at Old Trafford on Sunday, Ferdinand believes that it is time that Solskjaer takes the shackles off McTominay and give him a more advanced role.
Ferdinand also thinks that McTominay has the right combination of abilities to be deployed as a box-to-box midfielder.
“I think he’s a real box-to-box player. He’s got that energy and dynamism that he can get up and down.”
The former England international said that the best part of McTominay’s game is not brought to the fore because he is being played as a defensive midfielder.
A natural attacking midfielder
Speaking after the game to BBC Radio 5 Live (h/t Metro), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also mentioned how he has to stop McTominay from attacking too much.
The Norwegian revealed that the Scottish international started out as a striker. He also mentioned that McTominay is an attacking midfielder and it is in his nature to attack empty spaces.
“He just ran into the space that we hoped he would get… I have to stop Scott from doing that sometimes – he is an attacking midfielder by nature. But when he sees space in front of him, why stop him?”
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The result against Leeds United took United within 5 points of league leaders Liverpool. If the Red Devils win their game in hand, they could be just 2 points away from the summit.
