Monday, 22nd September, 2014



Former Dutch international striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink feels Manchester United are suffering due to a lack of leaders in their backline.

The Red Devils managed to squander a comfortable 3-1 lead and lost 5-3 to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium yesterday in Premier League action.




The Manchester United backline came under severe criticism for their role in squandering the team’s advantage, but Hasselbaink is not surprised by their defensive frailties.

He believes that the departure of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, coupled with their injury woes, have left Manchester United without a leader at the back who will organise and guide a youngster like Tyler Blackett.
 


“I'm not really that surprised [at the lack of] leadership”, the former Chelsea striker told Match of the Day.  

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“They don't have a leader at the back. They've lost Rio Ferdinand, they've lost [Nemanja] Vidic. [Jonny] Evans got injured, [Chris] Smalling is somebody who’s learning the game in my opinion. And so is [Tyler] Blackett.”

Hasselbaink believes Blackett is a talented young defender but he needs an experienced head who will guide him at the back and Manchester United lack that leader.

“Blackett is a good prospect, but he needs to play with somebody who has played 200, 300 games. He needs to be told what to do. At this moment in time, Man United don't have that leader at the back.”

The Red Devils will look to put up a much better defensive performance at the back when they take on West Ham at Old Trafford next weekend.

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