Bruno Fernandes is the Problem! Man Utd Thrash Ipswich!

0:00Hi, I'm Max Rushton, the host of The Guardian Football Weekly, alongside me, Barry Glendening, my co-host. Hey, Barry. Hello. Now, although every American found us during the World Cup, for the two that didn't, what can they expect? Found us and fell in love with us, Max. They can expect three episodes each week of occasionally insightful analysis covering the Premier League, Champions League and beyond. Football Weekly is back. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

0:32Yes, guys. Yes, guys. We are here. We're live and direct. It's Rio Reacts. Man United have just played and Man United have just won 5-2. 5-2 at Old Trafford. You know what? It was nice to watch, man. I mean, listen, after an uncomfortable first half, I've got to be honest with you, we're giving up too many chances. They should have probably gone in ahead at halftime, but we won't talk about that for too long. but I will say the first half was nervy. But it's entertainment. This game's about entertainment, guys, and you've got to embrace that. You can't be too sometimes we're nitpicking, we're overcritical.

1:06Sometimes it's about entertainment. Do you want to pay for your ticket to sit and watch a game live or in your front room on your sofa and be entertained? Man United and Ipswich, give them credit, today entertained us, guys. They entertained us. So, you know what? after the first half, I'm happy. Well, I'm satisfied. I'm satisfied. I mean, I think a lot of people after the first two games are sitting there going, by the way, it might have a couple of my WhatsApp chats, some May United fans. So, Luke Shaw, get rid, that's why, the last year, Luke Shaw's been one of our most consistent performers.

1:45Like, and you're sitting there going, oh, he shouldn't be there or let's get someone else. No, go and get a left back that we want to actually bed in over time to be a replacement for someone like Luke Shaw? Like, you think you're going to go in the market and find someone to go and pay? It's like 60 mil. 60 mil we have to pay. We ain't got that. We ain't got the budget to stretch that far after we've gone and bought the number of players that we've had in midfield to reinforce that area. So, listen, Luke Shaw's had better games, yes. But is he one we're looking to go, oh, we have to improve the area immediately?

2:19No, no, we need backup in that area right now with a fault of long term. All right? So let's not get carried away, guys. All right? There's too many people getting carried away. And we've got personal vendettas against people, Stee, that try and make people, yes, Stee, to try and make people think, oh, he's not good enough. Just look at the last year's performance. He was one of our top four or five performing players, consistency-wise, 100%. Not a bad game today. or below par game today doesn't change things for me. Again, the only thing I would say is that in left-back area, yes, we haven't got that understudy there.

3:00You're sitting there going, that's a ready-made replacement there, looking to come in. Needs a bit of experience, but he looks ready. We haven't got that guy right now. And so it seems the club don't think Harry Amass is that guy, it seems, because he doesn't seem to be close to it at the moment. So that's the way it is. Whether we believe Harry Amass is good enough or not, It seems the club doesn't feel like that. So I don't look at it like replace Luke Shaw. I look at it like let's find someone who could be a replacement in time, over time, because I still think he's good enough to play. It's just the volume of games we're going to have this week, he ain't going to be able to play all them games.

3:35So we need to see. But what I would say, guys, thank you for coming on. This is Rio Reacts. We're here live and direct after the game. So we're going to do a lot this season with big games, big moments around the season. We're going to be here talking to you about what's going on. Man United 5, Ipswich Town 2. After the first game against Holsey, people are pressing the panic button. People are saying, carry it out. I'll put one of their messages in my groups for a joke messing about. Are you mad people? Are you for real? What's going on here? What's going on? What are you talking about? Let the season start, man.

4:09I've played in games. I remember a game, I forget the name of the team we played against. We lost to a team that was promoted. We won the league that year. We won the league that year. It can happen. It ain't going to happen this year. Arsenal are going to win the league, guys. Man United ain't here to win the league. Man United ain't sitting there going, the people that are running the football club, Michael Carrick, as much as they would love to, in their most serious thoughts, they're not sitting there going, we are title challengers. We are title contenders right now. With their serious hat on.

4:41Outside of the press conferences. Outside of talking to the public. They're not thinking that. Sensible, realistic heads are sitting there going, a year of consolidation and a chance to finish Champions League is a must. That's the lowest. And if we get a trophy on top of that, what a season we've had. That's because that's where Man United are right now. All right? Man United standards over the years have been higher than that. We've got to get back to that. But that takes time. Can't happen overnight, guys. All right? So 5-2 today. Let's talk about today, man. After the first game, I saw a lot of people, man.

5:15I saw a lot of people, a lot of podcasters, a lot of people. These podcasters, please come on the chat here. Please come on the lives. Please come in my comments. Please come in the Rio Presents comments, please. And come with the same venom you was coming with for Bruno Fernandes. Patrice Evra. I saw him talking. To name one of many. putting any type of slander on our captain's name. He just, he saw all that, because I know he watches that, he sees it, he hears it. And he said, guys, respect me. I've broken a record that stood for over 20 years last year. I've won the Premier League Player of the Year, the PFA Player of the Year this year.

6:01And we're one game into the new season, you're trying to chat negatively about me. Are you nuts? So I'll slap another assist on the table. and to add to that, I'll slap three goals, a hat-trick, a hatty on the table too, just to let you know for good measure that I ain't going nowhere. No matter what you think or no matter what you say, I'm here to stay. I'm still the most important player at this football club. I'm still the captain and I'm still delivering. That's what Bruno said today. That's what he said to all you haters, naysayers, negativity spreaders. That's what you are. With what foundations?

6:37Where's the foundations? I get it, yeah? If you have the foundations, but they ain't there, they're not there. So what you've got to do, guys, is go and get some of that pie from Greg's, the humble pie, and deliver it to your mouth and eat it. Throw it up in your mouth, but don't spit it out. Swallow that. Hold that now, you eggs. Anyway, Bruno, thank you for that anyway. Allow me to deliver that in a lovely, lovely way. But no, man, the team, I look at it and obviously the Bruno Hattrick is the main talking point. And that's phenomenal. It's unbelievable to see. And, you know, it's a great response after the first game losing.

7:17Which, listen, at Man United, I'm not saying don't be negative. I'm not saying don't criticise. But I'm saying be realistic, right? Have a little bit of, like, realism with what you're talking about, right? Because at Man United, there's going to be players in that dressing room, the new players, who go, it's only the first day of the season but at Man United it's different you get criticized you get a draw you get criticized no matter no matter what area you're in this criticism is going to come differently harder quicker stronger and more relentless than anywhere you've been before so be ready for it guys that's just the way it is for the players these days right so that's the that's that and the way to answer it is the way the team played in the second half today the way the likes of Bruno, Kobi Maynou like Kobi Maynou didn't play the first game.

8:02Oh, is he going to go? Starts today. Like, he's numbers today, guys. I'll have to read a couple of these numbers out to you. 90 % passing accuracy. 14 defensive contributions. 11 ground duels contested. 10 line-breaking passes. 9 ground duels won. 5 attempted take-ons. 4 successful take-ons. His ability to beat the press on the dribble. Oh, beautiful stuff. He's widening his range of passing. We're only like a couple of games in here. I get that. But Bruno, man, is someone to look at for someone like Kobe, just about maintaining levels. And Kobe Manu is going to be a main part of this team, and today was a great way.

8:45If we're going to try and control games, especially where we struggled against the lesser average teams, the lower teams, the bottom six or seven teams in this team, we struggled against them last year, right? And we have done for a while. If we're to beat these teams convincingly and control these teams more, I think Kobe Maynard has got to be a mainstay in the team. And I think Telemans as well. From what I've seen, their ability to be able to control bits of games, I think they've got to play against these teams, especially, I'm not even talking about the main game. They take care of themselves.

9:17It doesn't matter who you play. Them games take care of themselves. But in these games here, when you have to be, you've got to manipulate things. You've got to control. you've got to have that sense of understanding where pressures are coming from to exploit space where there is when a team so you can get your attacking players 1v1 quick to hurt these teams, the lesser teams and the weaker teams and those two guys man they pass the ball forwards they run with it and travel with it well as well and I think in those games it's going to be an important factor in that middle part of the pitch to get control in these games don't allow those other teams to get control of the ball First half, yeah, weren't so great.

9:55But second half, I saw enough there to suggest, you know what, these two could be a really good partnership with Bruno in front of that. Oh, gosh. And do you know what? Martinez, by the way, we can see the two goals today, but what I would like to talk about is his ability on the ball. I think he's, I'd go as far to say Martinez is the best on the ball, best centre-back on the ball in the game right now. I'm trying to think of someone who I think is better you can break the lines with passes you can beat the press when someone comes to him and just move it and beat that press takes the ball in tight areas Martinez takes some beating mate I tell you he was phenomenal today on the ball in terms of his passing like top top top tier and you know guys let me know what you think about Rashford like did he score no Was he looking At times, yeah, today But even better

10:58Marcus Rashford, man He's working He's grafting He's tracking back 79 minutes, I think it was 79th minute I made a note He made a tackle On the edge of his own box And not on the side Winning the ball back And even more important than that was the response of the crowd because that's been a concern. That has been a concern for many people. That's been a concern for, I'm sure, Marcus Rashford and his family and his people around him. What's the reaction going to be? And if I had any advice of Marcus Rashford, I wouldn't have been thinking about goals. I wouldn't have been thinking about assists.

11:34I wouldn't have been thinking about skills. Anything about attacking. I'd have been thinking, how do I get these guys back on side? And you know what it would have been I've been thinking about? My work rate. my ability to run back and track back and make tackles and show sacrifice and show a responsibility to this team. That's how I get him back on the side. And today, I've got to say, guys, let's put aside anything with the ball. He's off the ball, what he was doing today. Ain't going to be too long before they're singing his name. I'm telling you guys. Because he was classed today, I thought in that sense.

12:12And again, many United fans will always react and respond to players who work hard for the team. And today, Marcus Rashford, there was nothing left out on that pitch. He'd have come in there, he'd done enough mileage, he'd done enough high intensity running without the ball that tells you this guy cares. He's aware that the awareness is there, the self-awareness of what he knows the fans, what they want. There aren't many people who are going to know more than Marcus Rashford, what these fans want. He's a local lad growing up in the academy, knows what the demands are on a Man United player. And he just looks more mature to me in most parts of his game.

12:46Yes, he can clean up parts of his stuff with the ball, but that isn't his second game of the season. I never got going to the fifth or sixth game of the season. It's part of it. But that will come. But what there are no excuses for is hard work. If there's a lack of hard work, there's no excuses. And that's what's been thrown in the past. And today, man, long may this continue. Fans will be sitting there going, I loved that for Marcus. He lost the ball a couple of times. The way he chased back and made it hard for the opposition, won the ball back. He's going to get time. Don't worry about that.

13:24So long may that continue. And listen, we still haven't even seen the likes of Sesko coming into this team and doing what he does. And I think he's got such a high ceiling. So there's loads of positivities here, man. And I think we can all get negative. And I think we all do. We get negative and we really boil it down to all in this moment and don't look big picture. Don't look about that. Where can we see this team moving to? And I think, like I said, the big games will take care of themselves. And I trust us to be able to go and get good results. We've done that all last season. We were brilliant at that.

14:00And I think that won't be the difficult part. This team will respond well to those big moments because that's what they've shown me beforehand. So if they continue that, that's good. It's in these games here, like we saw against Ipswich today, where it can get a bit messy. We need to tighten it all up, control that stuff, show more control in their moments, control the opposition a lot better. It's the same as against Hull City. Control them type of teams much better than we have been doing, like we did in the second half. And we will have a really, really good chance of really showing a better side of ourselves and improving.

14:36And you know, another guy we've got to talk to, give flowers and I agree Mamjay underscore records ENT we have to give Maguire his flowers I thought yep again defensively at times he showed some good times stepping in also the goal giving us an own goal but he makes it happen and yeah he looks like a guy who's taken a lot more responsibility in his team and I love seeing that and we spent some time with him last season beginning the pre-season this time last year really and I could sense someone again someone who's been resurrected gone through some hard times a bit like Rashford Rashford must I'm sure if Rashford hasn't spoken to Harry and Gua about both of their experiences if they haven't shared a beer or a coffee together talking about listen how difficult it's been but we're we're trying to make this work now I'll be surprised but yeah man I'm looking forward to it man any questions in there man who's got some questions throw some questions through at me man let me know i want to see some questions come through because again we've gone from such a negative um mindset of some of the fan base not all of the fan base i'm not going to tarnish everyone with that brush but first game comes out we lose the game and everyone's going mad i wear this with that and it's like guys it's one game in we've gone from having the most most points won from any manager since carrot came last season and then we play one game this season and people are going, oh my God, the Wolves have fell off.

16:08What type of sense is that? There's no sense. Let's get a bit of sense, man. All this panic. There's no need to panic. If we were losing games left, right and centre, we're 15 games in, I'd sit there and go, right, this could be a time to panic, guys. One game in, away from home, newly promoted team. It's happened many times, guys, when they've caused upsets. So, listen. Hi pod fans, Max Rushton here from the chart-topping Guardian Football Weekly Podcast. Don't like to crow. If you enjoyed the World Cup with us, you'll be glad to know we're back for the new Premier League season. Expect three episodes a week, questionable predictions and the biggest stories in soccer from the Premier League to the Champions League and beyond.

16:49Watch now on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

16:56Realism, sensible. Analysts on these type of games, I think that's the way. and again Sam Jabbar music yeah I agree faults on the defence feels a bit not there yet doesn't it yeah of course again but our attack don't look like he's firing on all cylinders either by the way yeah we scored five goals today we still don't like we're firing on all cylinders alright we won't be like I said let's get a few games under our belt first and then we can judge them but defensively we do need to improve that's not a we've conceded last week against a promoted team we conceded this week again the same thing we need to improve in that department no doubts right but let's just like get a level of like realism and and understanding that this isn't like going to be our bar for the rest of the season we're still getting to fitness full fitness we're still working on certain aspects of the game I'm sure and what the manager wants there might be a few tweaks in there but once that all gets ironed I think they'll be fine.

17:56So we'll see. But McCade, Machead614, did you think Sesco should have been given more time? Who am I to criticise a manager about who gets more game time? What do we know? Has he been carrying an injury? Does he need more time on a training pitch? There's so many of these things that are going on behind the scenes that whether he needed more time or not, the manager I'm sure knows best and the coaching staff, they know best. There's reasons why Seska only came on really late in the game. We'll see. Where does Balayba play? Jim O 'Bob? Hmm. Well, he plays in one of them holding midfielders. In Tielemans or Kobimenu is right, he plays in.

18:36But don't forget, guys, there's about 55, 60 games this season to be played. Kobimenu, Uri Tielemans, Santos, Balayba, they can't play them all. They're going to have to share them out. Because physically, the demand is that those games get shared out. So let's not worry about when or where does he play. They will get games. The manager has to determine when those games come. And then when those games come, guys, just like it was in our time, those players that come in have to be a minimum 7 out of 10. Have to be a minimum 7 out of 10. Perform, do your thing, and go with it. So, Crumpets underscore two.

19:18Ever called Tealemans too soft to control tempo? Do you agree? is that whatever I said? Let me ask him. Did he say that? If he did say that, I think that's unfair because

19:33ask Belgium, does he control their games? They qualified for a World Cup, played in a World Cup captain. He controls their temper. Ask all Aston Villa fans who went to watch games live, especially Villa Park, who was the controller in their team. Very successful time. Finished in the European spots. Probably Uri Tielemans was the controller in them games. So Patrice, come on mate, I don't know if you're watching another football pal.

20:05Which is your best free to start in midfield? Well listen, that's some exclusive trance. Our best free in midfield starts with Bruno Fernandes and then whoever you want to put in, they've got to earn that spot. And I think it's very much dependent on who you're playing. If you're playing against a really physical team, I'd probably, I don't know it's a real I think you could put any of them in there to play I think

20:30it's hard man I think it's difficult to pick Carrick's given himself a really difficult situation which is a situation every manager wants to be in I've got good enough players in there that are going to give me problems and it's not just like you outright the guys there's four players if you had Mason Mount there's five players for two positions it's difficult man very difficult Javon B88 Mainu must start he was extremely poised and efficient in that midfield today class yep on that performance today Kobe Mainu is one of the first two or three names on the team sheet 100 % but football doesn't work like that today doesn't there's so many games so many games and they're going to have to share it out hence why the club went into the market and have bought the amount of players they did in midfield yeah they've got three midfield players because they know that area the injury room needs bodies it needs legs it needs durability it needs the ability to be able to go over a lot of games and perform at a high standard so that's what happens man but picking who that guy is these guys have to earn that spot don't forget Kobe didn't play last year Tielemans is new Santos is new do you know what I mean?

21:42Belaba's new Mason Mount hasn't had a run of games so these two positions I don't think they're any ones yet. This is what I would say about the midfield positions for Man Utd. These two, Bruno's are given. The two poise behind him in midfield, them two positions are not a given to anyone yet. No one has earned that yet. Like I said, Kobi Mainu didn't play last year. We know the potential he's got is huge. Santos is new. Tielemans is new. Baleba's new, right? All of them guys there that I just mentioned, if you want to add Mason Mounts, that you can as well, have all got to prove to the manager that I am the mainstay.

22:21It's me and someone else. That's got to be the mindset of this midfield now, these players individually. Yes, players are collective, play for the team. But within that, it's like, don't care who you are, mate. You lot, it's about who's playing with me right now. And the manager needs to think like that. So they've got to put themselves in that position. That's only going to come with consistent performances at a really good level. Cobby's had a day-to-day where he could sit there today and go, guys, I'm in the driving seat. Who's playing with me? Simple as. Bruno has said today, if there was any doubts, Gaffer, just remember who you're dealing with, who I am, what I am to this team.

22:56I'm the guy. I'm the captain. I'm the main man. He's told the manager that. That's what you've got to do every week. That's the standard. That's the living of an everyday top player. That's the way they live and breathe. You've got to. If you don't, you fall off and you get put to one side and someone else replaces you. That's what it is. so guys let me know what you think in the comments as well man what is a successful season for Manchester United this year on all fronts let me know what you think you've heard what I've said I've said Champions League consolidation positions this year and a cut will be an improvement on last year which I'd like I ain't reaching for the stars and I ain't I ain't putting our bar too low that's a realistic realistic ask for this season

23:42machead 6414 do you think we should try to snatch one or two more transfers to have more depth if yes which positions i'd love to in dream world but the biggest question is and the better question is guys do we have the budget now to go into the market again to buy if we do have i would go in for a backup to Luke Shaw at left back, someone who can challenge him for that position. And if there was someone like a Danny Welbeck on the market, which I don't know where that is, I'd look at someone to go up there and challenge with Seska and be the number nine as someone who can push him and come in and out of the team, experience.

24:25But beyond that, I don't know where I'm looking at. again centre half positions you just want the guys to be fit you want De Ligt to come back and be fit Martinez to have a full season of pure fitness I think we'll be alright you've got the likes of Haven you've got the likes of Lenny Oro can play now play right back and centre back as well that's cool I'm fine with that a left back to push Luke Shaw an experienced centre forward who can come in and play minutes and doesn't demand to play every game I'll be happy with that so guys I'm going to love you and leave you it's been great coming on I think you know what this is one of the first reacts of the season last week we lost obviously to Harwon it was just like is our first one going to be a negative one and like a vibe where we're down I like positivity you know me guys man so really happy that this one come on today I was coming on regardless today but really happy we won 5-2 great result got the fans singing I had a few friends who were at the stadium today so it was loud they loved it atmosphere was great and I'm just good to see it's good to see the guys back man and you know what when you get a result like that it kicks everybody on and I'm sure the coaching staff are delighted with the players now consistency of performance consistency of results is key we have to stay consistent and maintain performance and maintain standards that is it maintain your standards and keep us at a good level guys individually and collectively so let's go make sure you stay tuned guys tomorrow We're at Rio Presents, 5 o 'clock UK time around the world.

26:00Make sure you're ready and ready to rock and roll. We're going to be talking about everything what we've talked about even today, got a bit more depth about performance. Other teams have played today and yesterday. Loads going on in the Premier League. Loads going on in the game worldwide. We are there to capture it. Subscribe, turn notifications on, tell a friend. See you tomorrow. This is Rio Reacts. Rio Presents tomorrow. Take care, guys. See you soon, man. Great to be back. Woo-hoo! Thank you.