Manchester United record scorer Wayne Rooney says the 20-time champions will not finish in the top four of the Premier League because they are “very inconsistent” and “too easy” to attack.
The Red Devils, who are eight points behind Aston Villa in fourth, face an uphill struggle to catch fifth-placed Tottenham in the position which is likely to ensure qualification for next season’s Uefa Champions League.
Spurs have two games in hand on United and Villa have one, while both sides have a significant goal superiority to Erik ten Hag’s team, who have 10 top-flight matches remaining following a 2-0 home win over Everton on Saturday which ended a run of two defeats.
“They have to almost win every game and they’re very inconsistent,” said Rooney, who won the Champions League at the club in 2008 and was part of the squad for United’s most recent title triumph, in 2012/13.
“I don’t think United will make the top four. They conceded 20-odd chances. There were no clear-cut chances for Everton but there are too many gaps. It’s too easy for teams to get opportunities against them.”
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Winless in 11 Premier League games before their latest defeat, Everton had 23 of the 38 attempts at goal as they became the fifth side of the last six United have faced to have at least 20 shots against them.
United’s run-in includes meetings with leaders Liverpool and title contenders Arsenal as they attempt to avoid adding to their 11 league defeats – five more than Villa and Spurs and as many as 13th-placed Bournemouth have suffered.
Manchester United have faced 467 shots in the Premier League this season.
Only Sheffield United (469) have conceded more. #MUFC PIC.TWITTER.COM/VO9JAPBHR4
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) MARCH 9, 2024
Man United vs Liverpool will be ‘different story’
“You can’t keep doing that at this level,” former United defender Rio Ferdinand said of the chances United have afforded teams.
“You can get away with it for games here and there but, in the end, you’re going to get punched. Unfortunately, United are not a team who dominates enough of the ball to stop teams at the moment. The way you play football is to stop the opposition from having any chances at goal.”
Ferdinand expects United, who lost 3-1 at Manchester City six days before beating Everton, to be punished if they do not tighten up significantly when they host Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 17.
“[You can’t] play like that against Liverpool, that open,” said Ferdinand. “[There were] huge spaces around Casemiro. He’s someone who needs people around him to make sure the gaps are filled.
“When you’re playing against Liverpool’s more confident and efficient finishers, it will be a different story.”
