Aheed Abrar
Craig Burley feels Manchester United need to sell Harry Maguire among others to get to the level of Manchester City
Manchester United have been urged by Craig Burley to sell “at least” 10 players, including Harry Maguire, to compete with the best sides.
The former Chelsea midfielder turned football pundit believes several players need to leave the Old Trafford side. The 51-year-old feels those players need to be replaced with better ones for Erik ten Hag’s side to compete with rivals Manchester City.
Speaking on ESPN FC (h/t Express), Burley named the United captain alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Fred as the ones he would let go.
“Well to get to City’s level they would have to sell.
“I’d get rid of Ronaldo, I’d get rid of [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka, I’d get rid of Shaw, I’d get rid of Maguire.
“The list is endless. Fred, there’s probably at least 10 they’d had to get rid of and replace to get to that level.”
In the Manchester derby, the gulf in gap between Pep Guardiola’s team and the Red Devils was glaring. The Cityzens scored four past us in the first half. Erling Haaland and Phil Foden completed their hat tricks in the second 45 as the match ended 6-3.
City played United out of the park. The Red Devils could not keep a hold of the ball in the middle of the park. And our defence had no answers to the Sky Blues’ attack.
United had been on a four-game win streak in the Premier League prior to the defeat at the Etihad Stadium. After a poor start to the season that saw us lose to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, we had bounced back.
The Old Trafford side have beaten the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal at home. However, the champions gave us a reality check.
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While getting rid of several players at once is not wise or realistic, United evidently do need some big changes. Fans have seen progress with the recent summer transfer window and the players that were bought.
Most of our new signings have fit straight in the Dutch manager’s plans. However, it remains to be seen how the hierarchy will back Ten Hag in the future.
