Argentine's home debut was 'magnificent' says Sky Sports expert
Monday 15 September 2014 11:09, UK
The creativity displayed by Angel di Maria in Manchester United’s 4-0 win over QPR is in the club’s “DNA”, according to Jamie Redknapp.
The Argentine recruit from Real Madrid shone on his Old Trafford debut, opening his goalscoring account for his new club and playing a leading role as Ander Herrera, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata completed the rout.
Speaking on Super Sunday, Redknapp believes di Maria’s attacking ability was reminiscent of legendary predecessors in a United shirt.
I thought in terms of his home debut he was magnificent. You could see the fear in the QPR players’ eyes every time he picked up the ball.
“It’s in this club’s DNA, going back to George Best, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo – people who can run with the ball,” he said.
“When you used to come here you were petrified of players like [di Maria] who could turn defence into attack and that’s exactly what he did. He frightened the life out of defenders, every time he got it he was trying to provoke a situation. Great, fast feet, and always looking to make a good pass.
“I thought in terms of his home debut he was magnificent. You could see the fear in the QPR players’ eyes every time he picked up the ball.”
The £60m signing scored a long-distance free-kick that eluded a crowd of bodies before beating the keeper, but Redknapp has no doubts around di Maria’s intention.
“He is shooting, he’s putting it into an area where if there’s not a touch it’s his goal. It’s a great delivery,” he said.
Problems
Redknapp praised the performance of Herrera and Daley Blind – and insisted Radamel Falcao will “score plenty of goals, don’t worry about that” – but believes they do not hide United’s deficiencies.
“[Louis van Gaal’s] got an embarrassment of riches going forward, I just think defensively it’s a problem,” he said.
“If you compare them to other teams – I look at Chelsea with Gary Cahill and John Terry, look at Man City with Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala – I don’t think United’s back four, that unit, is strong enough to win the Premier League.
“Can they get in the top four? Absolutely, because there’s so many great players who can change a game and that’s what they didn’t have last year.
“Going forward they can be as good as anybody. They’re devastating. But I think against the better sides who can hit them on the counter-attack – and I look at QPR, although they weren’t the best, having a couple of opportunities to open them up – that’s where their weaknesses will come.”
