The pundit feels United aren’t playing to their new striker’s strengths (Pictures: Getty / FIVE)
Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United’s wingers are not providing Rasmus Hojlund with the type of service he thrives off and says he is ‘scared’ about their chances in Sunday’s derby.
The Red Devils have struggled for form so far this season and their marquee summer signing, 20-year-old striker Hojlund, is yet to open his account in the Premier League.
But he has netted three in three in the Champions League and Ferdinand feels wingers Antony and Marcus Rashford must go back to basics and do more to provide the towering Dane with the service he requires.
‘I think we need to get to a place where we’re actually playing to our players’ strengths,’ said Ferdinand on his FIVE YouTube channel.
‘You look at Hojlund, he wants the ball crossed. You saw the header he scored in the Champions League, you see the way he attacks crosses.
‘Get the ball wide and cross it! Antony keeps chopping back on his left foot, doesn’t cross it. Marcus doesn’t really cross from that [left] side.
‘Get past your full-back, or get a yard, and put the ball in the box! And he’ll attack it.’
Hojlund has displayed his finishing prowess in the Champions League (Picture: Getty)
United host City at Old Trafford and can actually close the gap to their rivals to just three points with a win despite their lacklustre start to the season, though Ferdinand is not holding out much hope for an upset.
‘I’m scared, man, I’ve got to be honest. I’m scared,’ he continued.
‘I’m fearful, I’ve got to be honest with you. Your heart is telling you, “Maybe we can nick something and defend, defend, defend” but we’re miles off it if you look at it in terms of where City are and where we are.
‘The one positive I take going into the game is the way that the game ended the other day [against Copenhagen], I don’t think it could have ended any better for our team.
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‘Harry Maguire scored the winner, but also Andre Onana making that save in the final seconds of the game and you saw the way the team was around Onana and that euphoria hopefully travels into the next game.
‘Whereas if we’d won that game 1-0 and just won it, scraped through it, you’re going into the derby on a bit of a low ebb, but hopefully a bit of confidence grew from that.
‘I don’t think it’s going to be enough confidence, but you’d like to think we’re in a better place given where that game finished.’
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The pundit feels United aren’t playing to their new striker’s strengths.