Manchester United midfielder Daley Blind has hit back at former Red Devils legend Gary Neville, playing down accusations of “taking the easy option”
Neville earlier suggested that the summer acquisition needs to offer more going forward, and shouldn’t take the ’easy option’ passing sideways. “He [Blind] has got to start looking up more and playing forward, he plays far too many square passes and takes the easy option.
“Van Persie is still making his clever movement, but I don’t think his team-mates are seeing him anywhere near as much as Scholes and Carrick were two seasons ago.
“He lives off the back of centre-backs. We called him the burglar. But Blind takes the easy option,” said the former right-back.
But the summer arrival from Ajax has shrugged off Neville’s viewpoint, claiming that he likes to keep possession, which ultimately leads to openings.
Talking to reporters, the Dutchman said, “I can take a bit of criticism. The people on TV can say what they want. You hear it but I think I have played some good games,” the Dutchman told reporters.
“Of course you can play the ball forward but sometimes it is good to keep the ball in possession and make your team-mates play better. I can make other players more important than myself. If I can do that by switching the play to the other side or wait for the right moment to do that, then I will.
“If there is space forward, then I will play that ball but sometimes I think it is better to keep possession, to switch from side to side and move the ball and search for players who can make an individual action.
“I am not a player who does that. I like the possession game. I like to keep the ball and wait for the openings.
“Of course, I listen to [Neville] but I try to play my own game and do what the trainer [Louis van Gaal] wants from me. He wants me to keep possession. It is important to keep the ball and make the opponent more tired.
“You don’t have to win matches in the first half. You can wait until the second half. It is all about waiting for the right moment. Sometimes the space is there but other times you just have to keep the ball and wait for an opening.”
After arriving from in the summer on transfer deadline day in a deal worth £13.8 million, Blind impressed for Manchester United in a holding-midfielder role in Michael Carrick’s absence. But a knee injury in November curtailed his progress, which saw him ruled out for 6 weeks. Since his return, Blind has featured at centre-half and left-back for Louis van Gaal’s side.
The Red Devils face Cambridge United in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, at Abbey Stadium.
Image Courtesy : Sky