‘HE’S FAR AHEAD OF YOU’: Rio Ferdinand tells Man Utd duo Antony and Sancho to EMULATE one Arsenal star player
Rio Ferdinand wants Manchester United wingers Antony and Jadon Sancho to learn from Arsenal star Leandro Trossard and bring more ‘risk’ to their attacking play.
Antony and Sancho have both endured mixed seasons at Old Trafford and Ferdinand believes they are capable of more.
Brazil international Antony has scored seven goals in 29 appearances for the Red Devils since his £82m move from Ajax last summer.
Sancho, meanwhile, has scored five goals in 23 matches, spending a significant period of time away from the first-team due to physical and mental issues.
Speaking on the FIVE YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: ‘If Antony looks at his season he will sit there and go, “I’m not where I want to be, I’m not doing what I thought I would be by now”.
‘Yes he’s popped up with some important goals here and there but I think if he’s honest with himself he will think there needs to be more to come from him.
‘We have to be patient as a fan-base with that. Not everyone hits the ground running. I hope he gets the time to prove what he can do.
‘There’s one part of Antony and Jadon Sancho’s game that I think needs to improve, and that’s taking more risks.
‘You don’t get anything in this game without taking risks. You don’t have success without taking risks, you don’t win trophies without taking risks.
‘Alex Ferguson used to say to us all the time that he doesn’t want safe from forwards. That’s what I love about Bruno Fernandes, by the way.
‘He just needs some weapons in front of him. If he’s got people in front of him making runs and taking risks, he’s a problem for any team.’
With Antony and Sancho perhaps struggling for inspiration in the final third, Ferdinand believes both should take a leaf out of Trossard’s book.
The Belgian forward enjoyed an impressive first-half to the season at Brighton and has hit the ground running since his £27m January move to Arsenal.
Trossard has already registered five assists for the Gunners, with three of them coming in 45 minutes on Sunday as Arsenal brushed aside Fulham to restore their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Ex-Manchester United and England defender Ferdinand added: ‘Trossard, for me, has been a masterstroke signing. He gives Arsenal that depth in wide areas and up front.
‘Arsenal had [Bukayo] Saka and [Gabriel] Martinelli producing miracles all season but who can come in if one of them gets injured or needs a rest? It’s Trossard now.
‘He was the one player at Brighton who I was surprised hadn’t gone earlier. Every time I watched him he did something in the game. He’s a Belgium international too.
‘When you talk about wide players not taking risks, this guy takes risk. He gets the ball, he goes forward, he plays one-twos, he dribbles, he takes people on and he can see a pass.
‘He is doing everything and more that Arteta would have wanted from him as a new signing. He’s had a massive impact at Arsenal.’
Manchester United and Arsenal are both in Europa League action on Thursday, with Erik ten Hag’s side travelling to Real Betis with a 4-1 lead and the Gunners hosting Sporting Lisbon with the tie poised at 2-2.
