Dean Ashton ‘pathetic’ Manchester United rant raises further questions about Sky Sports coverage

Stretty News

·21 ottobre 2024

Dean Ashton ‘pathetic’ Manchester United rant raises further questions about Sky Sports coverage

Former Premier League striker Dean Ashton was critical of Manchester United after their 2-1 win over Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

United trailed after a controversial goal at half-time before launching an excellent comeback against Brentford, as Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund scored to change the course of the match after the half-time break.

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The performance in the second half was much improved but it wasn’t good enough to stop Ashton from having a go at United in his latest Sky Sports News soundbite.

“They’ve [Manchester United] got players who are superb on the counter-attack,” Ashton said, before adding: “Can Manchester United be that? Can he accept that? They either don’t want to or can’t understand pressing. They can’t do it, they’re pretty pathetic at it.

“Teams play through them and they find themselves totally exposed in the middle of the pitch because they don’t have the physicality of the midfield players to cope with that.

“When they do sit slightly deeper and allow the opposition to a bit more of the ball, Brentford created lots of chances, shots on target and then they get the two goals. They are set up to be a counter-attacking team but he’s probably not allowed to be that because of the size of the club.”

"The are pretty pathetic at it" 👀 Dean Ashton is not impressed by Manchester United's pressing and believes they are set up to be a counter-attacking team 🔄
– domenica 20 ottobre 2024

Who asked Dean Ashton?

Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Ashton has been in the professional game for long enough to know that teams of all levels apply different tactics. Where was the Sky Sports pundit when great Real Madrid teams of the past set up on the counter-attack? I’m not saying we are of that level (we’re not), but the idea that counter-attacking is only for small clubs is bizarre.

Especially when Ashton never played for a big club.

I’d rather focus on why Sky Sports have a pundit digging United out for being “pathetic” following a decent win over Brentford. We ended a five-match winless streak and all they bring to the table is negativity.

It is clear to see that Sky Sports would love to see more United defeats to suit their narrative on Ten Hag.