Error code: %{errorCode}

Soccer

'Everyone is looking for leaders' - Manchester United legend hits out at current Red Devils squad

Ash Rose
'Everyone is looking for leaders' - Manchester United legend hits out at current Red Devils squadVisionhaus/Getty Images
Erik ten Hag is under pressure again after a disappointing start to the campaign.

Sammy Mcllroy has slammed the current Manchester United side for lacking the leaders of past great United teams. 

The Red Devils have once again been under the microscope this season, thanks to a disappointing start to the season. 

Erik ten Hag's side sit in 14th place in the Premier League and pressure is once again on the Dutchman and his future in the Old Trafford dugout. 

McIlroy, who played for United for over a decade in the 70s and 80s, puts part of their struggles down to the personalities within the ranks. 

"We look at the squad now and everyone is looking for leaders,” McIlroy told SportsBoom.com.

“They’re looking for a Roy Keane, a Bryan Robson or someone like a Paddy Crerand or a Nobby Stiles to lead, players like that who would let people know if they weren’t playing well.

“Unfortunately, those days have gone now!

“I look around every top team now in the Premier League, and it’s not just Manchester United, and I seriously struggle for leaders and real characters.

“There’s no characters now in the modern game or leaders. You can’t even try for a comparison.”

It isn't just leadership the club lack either, McIIroy doesn't think that the current squad understand what it means to play for Manchester United and doubts they've experienced that pressure elsewhere. 

“We’ve got a lot of foreign players in our team now,” reflected McIlroy.

“Where they’ve been before, I doubt they’ve experienced the pressure of playing for a club like Manchester United.

“Obviously, these foreign players we’ve brought in have come from decent clubs. You look at the players from Ajax, the pressure of playing in Holland for that club must be huge, but it’s nothing like playing for Manchester United.

“The pressure of playing for some of these European clubs is nowhere near like the pressure they’ll experience of playing for Manchester United.

“This club has to be challenging for the Premier League and the Champions League, it’s as simple as that. That’s what the supporters demand.”

More Football

Ngannou v Ferreira

Watch on YouTube