Rio Ferdinand defends Manchester United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka after Roy Keane’s criticism
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‘It’s a really difficult skill to master’: Rio Ferdinand defends Manchester United winger Aaron Wan-Bissaka after criticism from Roy Keane for his ‘lack of awareness’ of Eddie Nketiah’s first goal in their loss to Arsenal
Rio Ferdinand has defended Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka following criticism from Roy Keane for his “lack of conscience” in the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Eddie Nketiah scored a brace to add to Bukayo Saka’s solo effort as the Gunners kept them clear at the top of the Premier League table, despite goals from United’s Marcus Rashford and Lisandro Martinez.
Nketiah got past Wan-Bissaka at the far post to head in on 24 minutes for Arsenal’s first goal, drawing intense criticism from former United midfielder Keane.
Rio Ferdinand defended Man United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka following criticism from Roy Keane
Ferdinand, however, has been quick to defend the former Crystal Palace defender insisting that it is not an easy skill to read which side to mark an opposing player.
About his Vibrate with Five PodcastFerdinand said: “Gary Neville was the best at this as a winger, he was the best at marking the opposite side when the ball was coming in, so if his winger was crossing the ball, Gary Neville would go inside the post.” so that everything I win, he will get it.
‘But he’s also going to join that end, grab them. He sometimes he’s not as big as those guys, but they have to do a lot to get away from them and he would just get in the way of him.
Former United defender Ferdinand feels the criticism was harsh as it is a difficult skill to master.
‘This [the Arsenal goal] it’s all about awareness and seeing the bigger picture and that comes from the reps in training.
“For Aaron Wan-Bissaka and all the full-backs, it’s a really hard skill to master. The way the guys were talking about it yesterday was like it was easy. It’s not easy.
“That’s one way 33-year-olds get eliminated at the end of their career when they’re supposed to know the other way around.
“It’s all about being on fire and having focus for the full 90s. If you shut down at those times, you get penalized because you’re six yards out, so it’s a goal.
He has to stick to himself. Feel it. Or he has to turn and look, but that’s the hardest thing to do, to do that and see the crosser and the man.
‘You can’t turn your back on him like he did. When you do that, you have no idea where he is. I didn’t know where he was.
Keane criticized Wan-Bissaka for his “lack of conscience” in the build-up to Nketiah’s opening goal
The former United defender’s comments come as Keane criticized Wan-Bissaka for his lack of conscience in the build-up to the Gunners’ first goal after the game.
It’s just your lack of awareness. It’s like he can’t believe someone is coming after him, because he can see it, he just falls asleep,” Keane said in comments to Sky Sports.
“Silly lack of concentration, considering we praised him as a good defender. Of course he sees it. You have to keep an eye on him, that’s his job, these are great things and these are great moments. Do your job, he goes and attacks the ball.
