Tim Sherwood has slammed Erik ten Hag’s treatment of Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri after being left out under the Dutchman, despite impressing.
Manchester United are struggling this season and sit 10th in the middle of the Premier League table and Erik ten Hag is seemingly coming in for criticism.
Hannibal Mejbri has looked promising in every game he has played this season but has been limited to substitute appearances, despite starting against Burnley and Crystal Palace.
Tim Sherwood, who has been full of praise for the Tunisian labelling him as their ‘best player’ in his appearances, believes Ten Hag has been wrong in his treatment of the 20-year-old.
Sherwood on Hannibal
Speaking on Sky Sports News, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager was very critical of the Dutchman’s behaviour towards the former AS Monaco man.
“He seems to pick superstars. £50m, £70m, £100m players – he throws them onto the pitch and hopes one of them does something to get him out the mire,” Sherwood said.
“Say what you want about him (Hannibal) and people will say, ‘He’s not a £100m player, he’s not this or that’ – but he went to Birmingham, worked hard on loan there, he came back and for me, he was Man of the Match in a couple of games.
“But as soon as someone else is fit, he is out the door. Sit on the bench, son. Someone else comes in and strolls around the pitch, doesn’t want to run around or get the ball back.”
Hannibal deserves more opportunities
United’s midfield this season has certainly looked below-par, with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, at times, struggling to impose themselves on games.
Well Hannibal, who spent last season at Birmingham City, came into the United side when morale was on the floor but, in the games he started, they recorded back-to-back victories.
Whether the 20-year-old will receive more game time remains to be seen but, based on the impact he made in his starts at Old Trafford, he could be the exact jolt of energy and fearlessness United will need at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United.
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