Saha: ‘Garnacho extremely interesting’
Louis Saha is a huge fan of teenage experience Alejandro Garnacho… however does not believe he must start yet.
Chatting to Paddy Power, the former striker said: “Alejandro Garnacho is a extremely interesting player.
“He has shown this season that he can be an impact player but at the same time, he can improve and be a starter. He has to learn a bit of tactical awareness and how to get the goals and assists.
“He will have to wait a bit because the team is full of quality. Going forward, there are a lot of players who can create and score goals.
“It’s not like United of a few years ago where there was a young Rashford and others where the quality wasn’t of the highest level. That’s not the case anymore and he [Garnacho] will need to learn and not expect to play every weekend.
“At the moment, I don’t see him getting into the starting lineup. When Christian Eriksen and Casemiro are back fit, there are some quality international players on the bench and he’s only 18-years-old. So, he can’t have guarantees – it’s not a small club here.
“If he thinks he deserves to play because of his talent, he’s wrong. Talent is not enough. Enough means that every time you play, you score or assist.
“He can’t expect anything right now. He’s only scored a few goals – which is good – but that’s nowhere near enough asking to be involved every week.”
Saha: ‘Rashford best in Prem’
Marcus Rashford is the Prem’s best player, claims former Man United striker Louis Saha.
Speaking to Paddy Power, the Frenchman said: “For me, there is absolutely no question that Marcus Rashford is the best player in the Premier League right now.
“A lot of players played well and scored loads of goals like Erling Haaland, but in terms of quality and the full package, from December he’s been unplayable.
“He’s got the confidence and he’s playing unbelievably well. He’s also not really been helped by Wout Weghorst.
“The system reminds me a little bit of Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud for France.
“When you have a player in full confidence, it’s going to be hard for any defender to cope with Rashford. He’s very smart and won’t get into situations where he’ll get bullied.
“There is no better player in the Premier League than Rashford right now.”
Saha: ‘Weghorst not good enough’
Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has blasted forward Wout Weghorst.
Chatting with Paddy Power, the Frenchman said: “I don’t want to be someone who gets on Wout Weghorst’s back, but he’s struggling to link up with other players. He’s finding it difficult to find the technical aspect that a Manchester United striker needs.
“He made eight appearances, and it was an unbelievable offer for Weghorst from Manchester United but it’s a difficult one because a player in this position needs goals, assists and to impact the game and it’s not
just enough to have good energy.
“It shows that anyone who wants to be Manchester United’s number nine, must have great energy and prove that he’s capable of playing. I would be asking so much more from Wout Weghorst, especially winning headers
given his size. He should get the ball under control more often because he shouldn’t struggle for composure.
“It’s a bit harsh but I want to see way more from him. He’s way off what we expect at Manchester United. Being the number nine, with very fast players around you is a huge task and he must be efficient in front of the goal.
“There’s a balance to be had between running around, pressing hard and then being effective in the box. You can’t do it all, especially when you’re a big guy, like Weghorst is. He wants to please the team and please
the manager, however he needs to have the right instinct to be in the right place at the right time.
“He’s not there to defend, we don’t judge him on his energy levels and commitment. It’s not enough. He knows he can do better, and I hope a few goals will help him.
“He’s been given a massive opportunity by Manchester United and Erik ten Hag. I don’t remember another striker being given this many chances to hit the ground running.”
Rashford thriving in Ronaldo absence
Marcus Rashford and Manchester United’s upturn in form is thanks to the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Garth Crooks.
Speaking to BBC Sport Crooks said: ” I believe it’s very telling that Manchester United’s results have continually improved since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and so has Rashford’s presence in the team.”
He added: “Rashford no longer has to play second fiddle to a player desperate to hang on to previous glories, who has far more interest in himself than the team. The problem has been removed.”
Man United Bellingham boost
Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that they want to keep Jude Bellingham – although they admit it could be “wishful thinking”.
The Bundesliga club’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl has now confirmed that there is no guarantee they will look to sell him and says they are desperate to hang on to him – but he also admitted that there have been no advanced talks over an extension and that a new deal seems unlikely.
Kehl said: “There has been no new development. We’ll have to be patient for a little longer.
“But of course we try to keep Jude Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund as long as possible because he is an incredibly important gamer who has actually revealed once again this season how he identifies with this club and makes the team better.
“Things develop due to market mechanisms. So of course I have my thoughts and also have my wishful thinking. I can’t say whether that will happen in the end.
“From Borussia Dortmund’s point of view, the wishful thinking would be to keep a gamer of this quality at this club for as long as possible.
“I would also like to have kept Erling Haaland or Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund, because you can only imagine if we had managed to keep all three players in one team, what opportunities would then arise.”
Ten Hag on fixture pile-up
Amid news that Man United will have to face Barcelona without Antony, Anthony Martial or Scott McTominay, Man United boss Erik ten Hag talked about the impact of the gruelling schedule.
He said last week: “I can’t say 100 per cent however I don’t expect it [the three players to be back against Barcelona].
“Definitely, it’s a tough season.
“With the World Cup in between there’s a great deal of load – overload – on the gamers, that’s rather clear.”
