‘He didn’t take his chance’

Rio Ferdinand has had his say on Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek after he has recently been given a series of starts.

It’s no secret that Van de Beek has struggled to adapt to life at Old Trafford since his move in 2020.

Across his three seasons with the club, he has only made five Premier League starts for United.

The Dutch midfielder has been handed back-to-back starts by Erik ten Hag in United’s last two matches though.

Van de Beek started against Real Sociedad and then against Aston Villa at the weekend.

Ferdinand commented on his performances and believes he struggles to make an impact.

The pundit explained on his YouTube channel: “The manager knows him, the manager knows what he has got hidden under his bonnet, what he is capable of.

“He has not come anywhere near doing that while he’s been at Manchester United or in England for that matter. He hasn’t.

“You get him in and around the box this guy can finish. The problem with the way he’s being deployed at Man United is he doesn’t get in the box, he doesn’t get the opportunities to get in there to show the best parts of his game.

“He just hasn’t been able to find rhythm, momentum, form, in a Man United shirt. The performance we saw wasn’t anything different to what we’ve seen at United, no impact.”

Van de Beek was substituted in each of his recent starts after struggling to get into the game.

Ferdinand added: “You’ve got to take your chances when they come because you aren’t going to get loads. Unfortunately, he didn’t take his chance.”

As Ten Hag has previously worked with Van de Beek, this season could have been a fresh start for the midfielder.

An injury had kept him out for most of the season and his chances now seem to be running thin.

Man Utd were well beaten in the end by Aston Villa and Ten Hag didn’t hold back after the game.

The manager explained: “We lost the game at the start of first half and second half and that is not acceptable,” Ten Hag said.

“They looked more fresh and more ready. We need to be more sharp. The result is really clear. It never lies. Today we were not good enough.

“We didn’t get the right organisation. We created chances and good chances at 2-1. But you are really disappointed to concede at the start of the second half.”

“It’s not acceptable that you concede a goal so quickly in the second half on the counter.

“Our players are experienced. You have to read the game and get right the organisation. Not concede two goals [early in the game] – that’s totally unnecessary.”

READ MORE: Transfer gossip: Liverpool could be gifted Man Utd’s no.1 target as Arsenal eye January signings