UNITED ARE SOFTIES
EDWIN’S BLAST AT OLE SOFTIES
EDWIN VAN DER SAR has stuck the boot into Manchester United and accused them of lacking character.
United have become the laughing stock of English football following their worst start to a Premier League season for 30 years.
They have won two of their opening eight games to slump to 12th in the table – two points above the relegation zone.
Those results have seen Ole Gunnar Solskjaer come under intense pressure and he is now battling to save his job.
Van der Sar admits United are like a different team to the one he played in between 2005 and 2011, when he won 10 major trophies, including four league titles.
He fears United have no leaders in the dressing room and the Dutch legend said: “Of course it’s difficult. I left there eight years ago and it was a tremendous last six years of my career, winning four Premier League titles and playing in three Champions League finals.
“So it’s a long way from the position they are in now.
“They bought younger, inexperienced players in the summer with a certain desire and hunger, not like the big names they bought in the last six, seven years.”
Van der Sar pointed to the likes of Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Roy Keane, who were key figures in the dressing room during his time at Old Trafford.
He added: “There have always been strong characters but for the last couple of years, the strong characters have disappeared and are not making a difference any more.”
United are keen to land a new striker in the January transfer window but Van der Sar fears the club might struggle because they no longer appeal to targets.
He told ESPN: “For a player, you want to play at a certain level. You also want to have an idea that you can win trophies.
“The players that they’re going to sign, they must make it that there’s a good path to where they’re going to go to.” TO READ OR WATCH THE INTERVIEW GO TO: https://www.espn.com/soccer/ manchester-united/story/3961876/ edwin-van-der-sar-strong-characters-havedisappeared-at-manchester-united