Rio Ferdinand believes Harry Maguire was largely to blame for Kelechi Iheanacho’s opener in Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to Leicester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.
The Manchester United legend says Maguire should have known not to play such a high-risk pass to Fred in the build-up to the goal.
Leicester City booked a spot in an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton as a result.
Mason Greenwood cancelled out Leicester’s first goal but United were not able to build on that before the Foxes scored their second and third.
It was bitterly disappointing to crash out of the FA Cup at the weekend because the next two weeks are facing up to be an international hangover period for those who only care about club football, which is a lot of us.
However, it was tough return to Leicester for Maguire. He spent two years at the club before his world-record move to Old Trafford.
Ferdinand wasn’t impressed with the role he played in giving Leicester the lead.
On Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, he said: ‘Fred should be doing better than that and he’s been caught a couple of times before in that type of situation.
‘As for Maguire, one criticism I would have, is I would say: “Know your players.”
‘If that’s Van de Beek, if that’s Pogba, if that’s Bruno Fernandes, you play then the ball like that and it’s not a problem.
‘But if it’s someone where you feel that’s not a strongpoint, then maybe you why away and play past that.’
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPAiS32go3-GwTO0kmlVX7g
Ferdinand believes Leicester wanted it more at the weekend.
‘I don’t think they were at the races at all,’ he added.
‘Mistake from an individual or not, Leicester rightfully got the result because they were there better team.
‘They had that fire in their belly, you could see that they had that spark about them that Manchester United were lacking.’
Read more: Manchester United youngster receives first senior international call-up
Agree totally. It’s not the first time Maguire has done that. His judgement is poor. Solskjaer rested players for the benefit of their countries, not United. This manager sold this game by his poor decisions. Amateurish. Remove his refusal to remove Fred although a red card was looming, got us knocked out of the champions league and his poor team selection (again) knocked us out of the Carabo cup. He lacks tactical nous, absolutely naive. He doesn’t make the necessary substitutions until 85 minutes always, it’s as though he freezes with fear of not knowing who to sub. Forget UEFA cup, or any cup with this manager. I love him as an icon, but not good enough to manage United. Considering how often Fred gives away possession, will he get into the Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea or Leicester teams?