...but legends question Herrera’s role at
FORMER United players Ryan Giggs and Phil Neville presided over a peculiar analysis of Ander Herrera’s excellent season.
Giggs and Neville are two of the most decorated players in United’s history and moved into coaching roles at the club – yet they have baffled supporters by questioning Herrera’s ability to offer similar qualities to Michael Carrick.
On Premier League TV, Giggs and Neville discussed Herrera’s influence with former Ipswich and Charlton midfielder Matt Holland.
“He’s not a Michael Carrick, though, is he?” asks Holland.
“He’s a great lad, one of the great characters in the team, so in the dressing room he’s good,” Giggs replies.
Neville then asks: “What’s his best position? Could he play the Michael Carrick role?”
“He could, but I don’t think he’s got that pass,” Giggs replies.
“I don’t think he’s got that consistent pass that Michael’s got, he’s an all-action midfielder who can defend, like he did against Hazard, also he can score goals.”
Herrera provided 11 assists last term to Carrick’s three.
Neville then moves on to Antonio Valencia and said he was ‘turned into a right-back’ under Louis van Gaal.
“Louis had come off the World Cup,” Giggs added. “Played with five, he looked at the players we got – Rooney, Van Persie, Mata – there’s the two, there’s the number 10, so Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia – there are your wing-backs.”