Former Chelsea player, John Obi Mikel has lashed out at the club for still depending on Harry Maguire for defensive duties, insisting that the England international has never been a reliable centre-back.
He said that Michael Carrick must remove the Englishman from his starting XI if he hopes to achieve anything this season.
Manchester United suffered a 2-0 defeat against newly promoted Hull City in their opening Premier League match of the season.
Veteran defender, Maguire faced criticism for his performance during the Red Devils’ loss.
Obi Mikel said that Maguire’s presence in the starting lineup is problematic and that he should be removed from the XI.
Speaking on The Obi One podcast, the former Super Eagles captain stated, “When your primary centre-back is Harry Maguire, you have an issue. Harry Maguire was never suited to be a Manchester United player; he does not fit the system or the ethos of the club.
“It is astonishing that he has remained there for seven or eight seasons. How has that occurred? I cannot comprehend it.”
He further mentioned that while Maguire could serve as a valuable option off the bench, he should not be a starter ahead of the other defenders available to Michael Carrick.
Mikel went on, “They have Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro; there are capable players in the squad. However, I am perplexed as to why he continues to start. Is he suitable as a squad player due to his experience? Yes. But he should not be starting matches, nor should he be your primary centre-back.”
Mikel subsequently criticised Maguire’s playing style, asserting that the seasoned English defender is too slow with the ball and fails to maintain the necessary tempo.
Michael Carrick and his team will aim to bounce back to winning ways when Manchester United face another newly promoted team, Ipswich Town, in their first home match of the season on Sunday.