Hargreaves claims Man Utd midfielder ‘a good squad player’ only

Will Ford

Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves claims Andreas Pereira does not have the quality to be a regular starter at Old Trafford.

With injuries sustained by Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been forced to call upon Andreas Pereira perhaps more than he’d have expected to this season, the Belgium-born midfielder on Thursday night making his 35th appearance of the campaign for the club – by far his most successful in United colours so far.

But after witnessing his display in Thursday’s 1-1 Europa League Round-of-32 first-leg draw at Club Brugge, Hargreaves is adamant the player is not of the quality United need to elevate themselves back among the elite of the English game.

“He’s had the second most appearances for Manchester United this season,” Hargreaves said on BT Sport.

“He shouldn’t be in the position he’s in right now because Manchester United really in the past have always had players, you think of Paul Scholes and Roy Keane.

“Right now the load is being put on these young guys and [Marcus] Rashford and [Anthony] Martial and Mason Greenwood and Pereira.

“And really, they’re going to be really good squad players for Manchester United but if Manchester United want to win the Champions League and win the Premier League, I think Pereira is going to be a good squad player.”

 

 

Hargreaves continued: “He’s played multiple positions this season. He spoke about goals there [in his interview] but I think he’s only got one [this season].

“At times he’s played as a 10, at times he’s played wide, today he’s almost playing as a sitter.

“I think it’s difficult for any young player coming into a team that’s struggling playing multiple positions.

“So I think he’s done well, he’s had a breakthrough season but to expect him to get 15 goals, that’s unrealistic right now.”

 

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