MANCHESTER UNITED legend Rio Ferdinand has criticised wingers Jadon Sancho and Antony for failing to “kill full-backs”.
The Red Devils struggled to create during their goalless draw with Newcastle on Sunday.
Sancho and Antony occupied the positions on the flanks, but the service into Cristiano Ronaldo was lacking for much of the game.
And Ferdinand feels the pair could learn a thing or two from watching Arsenal and England star Bukayo Saka.
Speaking on his YouTube channel FIVE, he said: “We don’t seem to have the imagination in those areas.
“We used to give it to Nani, Giggsy [Ryan Giggs], to Becks [David Beckham] even, give it to Antonio Valencia or Cristiano [Ronaldo] when they’re wide.
“Get him in a one-on-one situation, either with a good ball from [Paul] Scholes or [Michael] Carrick etc, get them one-versus-one and do your thing.
“At the moment we get in those positions and unfortunately for us, our wide players are turning away from that, they’re not killing full-backs, they’re not skinning them.
“The best teams, the winners, get teams one-versus-one, they wait for that moment in the game. They might only get two or three moments in a game where they stand that full-back up one-versus-one.
“Saka does it as well as anyone at the moment in the league. They get the full-back one-versus-one and they say, ‘right, I’m going to ghost you’. At the moment, our wide players aren’t doing that.”
Antony has scored three goals in four Premier League matches, but is yet to register an assist.
Sancho has contributed two league goals in the 2022/23 campaign, but is also yet to assist.
Ferdinand continued: “Parts of their game are working functionally, other than the City game [6-3 defeat], defensively they’re doing well.
“But when we have the ball and we want them to do that bit of cherry on the top, that stuff, we aren’t getting that right now.
“It’s what you need sometimes, to create that space and all of a sudden you’re behind their defence and, all of a sudden, the likes of Marcus Rashford and Cristiano can come alive and get you goals, or Bruno [Fernandes] comes in late.”
Ferdinand heaped praise on Saka – who already has four goals and four assists in the Premier League so far this season.
And he believes the Arsenal man is now England’s best option to play on the right of a front three at the World Cup.
“In this form, you can’t look past Saka on the right wing spot,” he said. “I think in an England shirt he does well.
“He’s a winger who, when he gets it, I’ve watched him a couple of times live as well this year, his first instinct and intention is to go past you.
“We spoke to Nani and he told us that was his intention. As soon as he got the ball one-versus-one, he was looking to beat the full-back.
“I love that about him, he’s got no fear, he’s playing with a bit more maturity every time I see him.
“He is in a good vein of form with a club that’s in a good vein of form. He’s confident and if he’s in that mode going into the World Cup I don’t see anyone starting in front of him.”
