Rio Ferdinand comments on Donny van de Beek’s struggles at Manchester United

Add as preferred source on Google

Donny van de Beek started his first Premier League game for Manchester United in 2022 on Sunday, and it ended in defeat.

Instead of grasping his opportunity, Van de Beek wilted, leaving fans wondering if it is time to simply give up on him.

Former United star Rio Ferdinand was asked about Van de Beek on his his Five podcast, and he admits that the midfielder, a former guest on his channel, did not take his chance.

Ferdinand said he does not feel United have necessarily always played to Van de Beek’s strengths, and knows he has more to offer.

Rio Ferdinand comments on Donny van de Beek

Ferdinand said that while manager Erik ten Hag knows Van de Beek has ability, the midfielder is not responding as the boss would like, to justify his recent faith.

He said: “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 hasnt 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 started the preceding game away at Real Sociedad, and also struggled. This two game window was a very rare chance for him to start back to back games, and he did not take advantage,

Perhaps it could be argued he was set up to fail, coming into his first Premier League game of the season with minimal rest time, but these are not excuses many Manchester United fans will be willing to tolerate at this point.

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.”

It’s possible Van de Beek has blown his opportunity to start the Carabao Cup game this week against Aston Villa.

Erik ten Hag has a choice whether to recall Bruno Fernandes and take Van de Beek out the firing line, or give him another chance, to try and ‘play him through’ his form struggles.

The kinder move may be to leave him on the bench, if he’s simply not ready, and spend the winter break working with the midfielder to focus on restoring his form and confidence.