Rio Ferdinand gasps ‘imagine being a player now’ as he spots Man Utd coaches’ instructions for Zirkzee vs Brighton
RIO FERDINAND admitted he “couldn’t imagine” being a Premier League player now after watching Joshua Zirkzee receive information on a tablet at half-time against Brighton.
The Dutch striker was brought on at the break at the Amex after Manchester United saw themselves 1-0 down – before falling to a 2-1 defeat in stoppage time.
Zirkzee replaced Mason Mount, who was deployed in a joint false-nine role with Bruno Fernandes in the first half.
United had started the game strongly but were haunted by former forward Danny Welbeck – who notched his 100th Prem goal inside 32 minutes.
Erik Ten Hag summoned reinforcements and sent Zirkzee on to replicate his goalscoring showing from the season opener against Fulham.
As the United players lined the tunnel, Zirkzee was seen checking out a tablet that was apparently revealing his role in a zonal marking system.
Just as the TNT cameras returned, Ferdinand said: “I couldn’t imagine being a player today. There’s so much information.
“Look at that, there’s pages and pages, scrolls and scrolls and scrolls of different ways to play.
“We used to have one hand meant that, and the other hand meant this.”
United were struggling to deal with the Seagulls’ high line before Amad Diallo equalised for the visitors.
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Zirkzee found himself at the centre of the biggest drama of the afternoon after his freak offside saw Alejandro Garnacho’s goal chalked off.
Garnacho thought he had tapped in an easy finish to put United 2-1 up but the ball ricocheted off Zirkzee’s knee on the line – with the striker in an offside position after having already slid in.
Had Zirkzee made contact with the ball once the ball had fully crossed the line, the goal would have stood.
Meanwhile, Ferdinand later slammed Antony for a “powder puff tackle” before Joao Pedro’s last-gasp back post winner in the 95th minute.
In the build-up to the decisive goal, substitute Antony failed to win the ball off Simon Adingra on the edge of the United box.
The ball was then recycled back to the winger, who crossed in for Pedro to head home.
Man Utd ratings vs Brighton: Diallo shines again by Maguire costs Red Devils again
MANCHESTER UNITED suffered more misery on the seaside as they lost again at the Amex.
It was almost all so different for the Red Devils as, at 1-1, fans celebrated what they thought was a winner – only for the goal to be ruled out in a bonkers offside call.
And Joao Pedro pounced to snatch the three points for Brighton deep into added time.
Here’s how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated United’s stars…
ANDRE ONANA – 4/10
Not convincing from a goalkeeper we know can perform with the best in this league.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6
Has been a good upgrade on Wan-Bissaka judging by his opening performances in a United shirt.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 4
Was caught ball watching for Danny Welbeck’s opener, and was rendered useless after letting it run past him twice.
Improved in the second half with some crucial blocks and was decent in terms of building from the back, but his error may have cost his team three points.
LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 5
Not a particularly noticeable performance from ‘The Butcher’ in a positive or negative sense.
Suppose it was a solid showing but was also caught ball watching for the opening goal.
DIOGO DALOT – 7
Was unlucky not to have an assist in the first half, but played well and put the team on his back at times.
Made a crucial goal line block early on in the second half to deny Brighton a two-goal lead and played some good crosses throughout.
CASEMIRO – 6
Stepped into tackles well when required and is having something of a resurgence at the start of this season – doesn’t look as off the pace as he did last campaign.
His final ball was disappointing at times, but overall a solid showing.
KOBBIE MAINOO – 7
Composure personified, Kobbie played like a midfielder well beyond his years.
Was always on hand to break up play, a la N’Golo Kante, but showed a calmness and ability on the half-turn which really puts him up there with the best in the league – a great performance let down by that of his teammates.
MASON MOUNT – 5
Didn’t play badly in the first half, but also added nothing really going forward for this Man Utd team.
Hooked at half-time for the more threatening Joshua Zirkzee.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 6
Had a goal ruled out in the first half after he had persisted brilliantly to head home.
A little unlucky but it was still far from the finest Marcus Rashford performance we have seen, he looked a little low on confidence before being hooked for the more confident Garnacho.
AMAD DIALLO – 8
Had a great chance to open the scoring early on in the game as he arrived at the back post, but it wasn’t quite at the right height for him.
The young winger clearly has bundles of ability, and bagged the equaliser with a fine cut inside and finish with his left foot.
Worth a note that after losing his mother it takes a hell of a man to even be out on that pitch at 22-years-old. Well played Amad, we are with you.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 7
Cut a frustrated figure up front for Man Utd in the first half before thinking he’d bagged an assist when Alejandro Garnacho tapped home, only for it to be ruled out by VAR.
Just wasn’t his day today, but still created chances for his team and looked the most likely source of a winner for the Red Devils.
SUBS:
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE (MASON MOUNT, 45) – 4
His only real action of note in the game was denying his team the winning goal.
Alejandro Garnacho had done the hard work and was about to give Man Utd the lead, only for Zirkzee to slide in and see it ruled out for offside.
His mistake did display an eagerness to score, but it was an error which cost his side nonetheless.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO (MARCUS RASHFORD, 65) – 6
Did his job well in replacing Marcus Rashford and adding the end product which was needed by Erik ten Hag, but was robbed of a goal by his teammate as aforementioned.
Looks a danger whenever he plays on that left hand side, but after the goal that never was he was well defended for the remaining minutes.
SCOTT MCTOMINAY (BRUNO FERNANDES, 79) – 5
Bought on as a target man once again to try and get the winner for United, he wasn’t really provided with many opportunities in just over 10 minutes to really do that.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT (HARRY MAGUIRE, 79) – 5
Wasn’t really given enough of a chance to show what he is all about, but it’s minutes in the tank for the new man and he did what was asked of him after coming off the bench.
ANTONY (AMAD DIALLO, 90) – 5
In fairness to him, made a good run as soon as he entered the pitch and crossed well for Scott McTominay.
However, he wasn’t given enough time to make any significant impact.