Former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has launched a stinging attack on three of Ruben Amorim's key Manchester United signings, questioning their quality and impact at Old Trafford.
Sherwood's Scathing Defence Verdict
In a frank interview with BetWright, Sherwood did not hold back in his criticism of United's defensive recruits. Leny Yoro, the 20-year-old French centre-back signed from Lille in 2024, was singled out despite his highly-publicised move which saw United beat Real Madrid to his signature. Sherwood stated he simply does not "see it" with the young defender at this moment.
His assessment of Matthijs de Ligt was equally damning. The 26-year-old Dutch international, a marquee signing from Bayern Munich with prior experience at Ajax and Juventus, was labelled as not being "the answer for Manchester United" by the former Blackburn midfielder.
Striker Sesko Also Under Fire
The criticism extended to the attacking department, with Sherwood unimpressed by Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko. The forward has managed just two goals in 14 appearances for the club since his arrival. Sherwood argued that if Sesko had been a product of the club's academy system performing at his current level, he would have been discarded and "never get another opportunity."
While acknowledging that players from European leagues often need a settling-in period, Sherwood expressed significant doubt that this would lead to a positive outcome for the Red Devils in these specific cases.
Context and Consequences for United
Sherwood's comments highlight the perceived gulf in squad quality between the Premier League's top teams and the chasing pack, which includes Amorim's side. Manchester United currently sit seventh in the Premier League table, with a crucial Boxing Day fixture against Newcastle United on the horizon. A victory would see them draw level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea.
Sesko, recently back in the starting line-up after a knee injury, will be under particular scrutiny to improve his output. The brutal assessment from a prominent pundit like Sherwood piles further pressure on Amorim and his players as they aim to climb the table and secure a Champions League qualification spot.
