Souness reveals what he would do with Man Utd’s midfield

Graeme Souness: Thinks Zlatan Ibrahimovic deserves an award

Gary Neville and Graeme Souness were involved in a heated exchange on Sunday with the former posing Souness an interesting question.

Manchester City’s one-sided 3-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday sparked an intense debate between the two Sky pundits, with Souness heavily critical of Jose Mourinho.

“If you were going in there as manager tomorrow, what would you change?” Neville asked Souness on Sky Sports.

 

Transcript from Super Sunday:

SOUNESS: I would ask the midfield players to start playing one and two-touch. You don’t want to be a striker in that team.

NEVILLE: Do you think they can play one and two-touch? Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini?

SOUNESS: I’d be demanding it.

NEVILLE: Fellaini can’t play one and two-touch in midfield.

SOUNESS: Well I wouldn’t play Fellaini.

NEVILLE: Graeme is saying he has lost faith in Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, well Jose Mourinho has won wherever he has been. He has won 20 titles, the same as Pep Guardiola. My point is David Moyes couldn’t sort out the group, Louis van Gaal couldn’t sort out the group and now Jose Mourinho – the most successful manager of the last 15 years along with Pep Guardiola can’t sort out the group. I’m not as quick to sit here and say it’s the coaching staff’s fault.

There is a problem structurally at the club that means it will be difficult for any coach to perform. Can he do better? Of course he can, but this guy has won everywhere he’s been. I haven’t lost faith in him yet. He is going through a difficult moment, but I haven’t lost faith in Jose Mourinho as a coach

SOUNESS: As long as you think it’s acceptable for them to turn up in this stadium today and play like that.

NEVILLE: I don’t think it’s acceptable, Graeme, for them to lose any game at all. I’m a Manchester United fan and I was built on them playing fantastic football

SOUNESS: That’s my point. That’s how far you’ve travelled.

NEVILLE: I didn’t like the football under Louis van Gaal either, Graeme. Or under David Moyes.

SOUNESS: In 10 years they have travelled a long way in the wrong direction.

NEVILLE: I know., but is it one man’s fault? Is it a manager’s fault or is it an issue?

SOUNESS: No, it’s a collective thing. Of course it is, but there’s no point turning around and saying they’ve not invested enough money in the team and it’s no good saying that group of players can’t play better than that because they can.