Manchester United: Paul Pogba 'doesn't understand the game' and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is 'past his sell-by date'
Eamon Dunphy, the Irish broadcaster and former United youth team player, also criticised Wayne Rooney, Marcos Rojo and Memphis Depay
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Your support makes all the difference.Paul Pogba does not “understand the game”, Wayne Rooney is “burnt out” and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is “way past his sell-by date”, according to Eamon Dunphy.
The former Manchester United youth team player picked out several members of Jose Mourinho's first-team squad for criticism while analysing his old club’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
Dunphy told RTÉ 2fm: “It was a spirited performance, but in the end they gave up a soft goal.
“David de Gea had nothing to do all afternoon, but for the goal the full-back walked past Marcus Rashford.
“Paul Pogba should have been giving him cover, he didn’t bother, he just stood there because he doesn’t really understand the game.”
When discussing United’s squad, Dunphy identified Ibrahimovic, Rooney, Memphis Depay and Marcos Rojo as players who are no longer good enough to make Mourinho’s starting line-up.
“I’d say Ibrahimovic has no more football in him,” Dunphy said. “Against the weaker teams they had to play at the beginning, I think he got six goals in seven games and they were important goals as well.
“But he’s way past his sell by date. He’s 35 now. He can’t really put in the work. The passing, scoring goals, his general play has been very, very poor.
“Rooney looks like he’s finally burnt out. He hasn’t been a first choice for Mourinho for a few weeks. And he’s never played in his correct position.
“When Mourinho arrived, one of the first this he said was that Rooney is a goalscorer, a number 10, and that’s where he’ll play.
“He hasn’t played there at all. I think you can forget Rooney in terms of saving the day for Manchester United. He was a marvellous player, but he’s not going to be that anymore.
“Where’s Memphis? He was another player they played a lot of money for,” he added. “There are picture of Memphis floating around Manchester in his Rolls Royce, which is one of a number of big cars he has. But he’s not playing any football. It’s a good job if you can get it.”
Dunphy, who has enjoyed a successful media career following his retirement from professional football, is known for his forthright punditry.
The Irish broadcaster is also a biographer of Sir Matt Busby. Dunphy played for United's youth teams between 1962 and 1965, during the Scot's reign.
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