Michael Owen slams three Manchester United defenders for ineffective play

Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen expressed strong criticism of three of the team’s defenders following their disappointing 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Owen singled out Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Harry Maguire for their poor performances, accusing them of being ineffective throughout the match.

Owen was particularly frustrated with the defenders’ role in Tottenham’s goal, scored by James Maddison after just 13 minutes. He pointed out that none of the center-backs reacted when goalkeeper Andre Onana parried Lucas Bergvall’s initial shot, allowing Maddison to score from close range.

“What frustrates me most about this Manchester United team is that those center-backs are essentially passive during the game,” Owen stated in his post-match analysis. “They rarely mark opponents effectively, yet when asked to do one simple job – like stopping a player from shooting – they’re caught sleeping.”

The former Liverpool and England star went on to criticize the defenders’ overall positioning and lack of proactivity: “We’ve seen many instances in the first half where there’s no one to mark, yet these three defenders are literally doing nothing. They won’t push forward, they won’t mark anyone – they just stand there passively.”

Owen argued that the manager’s tactical setup, which utilizes multiple defenders, is ineffective since none of them seem to be actively marking opponents. He suggested that playing as a center-back for Manchester United should theoretically be “the easiest position on the pitch” given their lack of defensive responsibilities, yet the players are still underperforming.

This scathing criticism comes as Manchester United find themselves in 15th place in the Premier League table, just 12 points above the relegation zone. The team’s poor form and defensive frailties have been a major concern for fans and pundits alike this season.