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Former Manchester United defender John O’Shea has singled out Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro for praise despite the club’s shambolic season.
United are currently languishing in 15th position in the Premier League table, having suffered 15 losses and drawn eight. United have only won 10 games.
With only five top-flight matches left to play, a top-half finish appears to be an impossible task. Statistically, this campaign will be the worst in United’s history in the top flight.
However, O’Shea highlighted Mazraoui, De Ligt, and Yoro as three bright spots. The summer signings have adapted effortlessly to life at Old Trafford, making an immediate impact. Mazraoui, a consistent starter under Erik ten Hag, has maintained his key role under Ruben Amorim, much like De Ligt and Yoro, who have also settled in seamlessly.
Speaking at a United Foundation event at Ulster University, O’Shea told club media about Mazraoui, “Right from the off, his flexibility and adaptability has been very helpful to the team. He’s showed really good qualities defensively, especially 1v1, and also in terms of attacking, he’s been able to contribute as well.”
“I think he’s been a real positive.”
On De Ligt and Yoro, O’Shea remarked, “I think Matthijs, in fairness to him, obviously he picked up a bit of an injury recently, but he was really starting to show some improved form and show that quality that everyone knows he possesses.”
“I think it was just a matter of time really, with that consistency. He was going to find that level and it’s getting to know new team-.mates as well. Settling into the English Premier League can always take a few month.”
“With Leny, we’ll have no worries about him in terms of what he’s going to develop into, and he’s going to be an excellent player. You can see not only now, but, for the future, I think he’ll be part of Manchester United’s defence for numerous years to come, whether it be a back three or back four or whatever, whatever the manager wants to play.”
Despite how bad the season has been for United, they still have a chance of winning the Europa League. Doing so would not only guarantee the club silverware but also a spot in the Champions League.
O’Shea noted that lifting the Europa League could be the catalyst for success under Amorim.
“He’s [Amorim] been really refreshing to see, because he obviously wears his heart on his sleeve. You can see how passionate he is, and also how honest he is in his interviews before and after the games as well, and there’s no hiding place. He’s obviously worked at a high level, and now he’s come into the intensity of the Premier League, which I’m sure would have taken him a little bit of time to adjust to.”
“But now you can see, hopefully if we can get to this European final, it’s a chance for the team to get a bit of early success under his stewardship. If he can get that, you can also get a lot of momentum behind it too.”
“Listen, Manchester United will always be an attractive proposition, but we have to face the reality: there’s more competition now in the transfer market for other players. So when you’re winning trophies, that always attracts players.”
O’Shea enjoyed a fantastic spell at United, playing 394 times between 1999 and 2011. He helped the club to five Premier League titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup.
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