Andrei Kanchelskis ‘can’t understand’ Manchester United, pinpoints biggest issue in squad and says Antony can learn from surprise legend

Andrei Kanchelskis won the Premier League in back-to-back seasons with Manchester United in the 1990s under Alex Ferguson.

In an exclusive interview with Ladbrokes: Fanzone, the former Soviet Union and Russia winger had some shrewd advice for the United board, urged supporters to show patience with Antony and picked out his Premier League title winner, but he started the conversation by talking about star striker Marcus Rashford.

Rashford and Haaland are best forwards in Premier League

I just don’t understand Manchester United right now. How do you go from winning a cup to losing the way they did against Liverpool, to scoring four past Real Betis and then drawing 0-0 with bottom of the league? I don’t get it. Where were the attacking players this weekend? Where were they against Liverpool?

Regardless of what went on defensively, you might have excused the team a little if they’d have lost, say, 7-4 against Liverpool, because at least they’ve tried to create chances and they’ve scored goals. But they didn’t, and then we see another game with no goals against Southampton. What’s happened?

A night to remember! 🏅 pic.twitter.com/X8ETBdGERz

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 15, 2023

Marcus Rashford has been incredible this season. In fact, in my opinion there are two attackers better than anyone else in the Premier League right now, and they are him and Erling Haaland. But there’s a real lack of other players you can say have reached that level for Manchester United this season.

I can’t help but think back to United teams of old, in particular ones I played a part in. We had so many options, so many strong forwards over the years, so there was always strength in depth. I’m thinking about Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona, Brian McClair and later Andy Cole. These guys were always at such a high standard, it meant there was never pressure on just one name, like there is with Rashford right now. He’s had an incredible season so far, though.

My advice for United’s board this summer…

In my opinion, Casemiro is a great signing, I think that’s obvious. His position on the pitch is so important and he’s one of the best in the world. But, again, the problem comes when you look past Casemiro at the rest of the options available to the manager. You need two or three Casemiros, but there’s only one in this team.

It’s another problem with depth – another problem I never faced when I was a United player. We had Roy Keane, Paul Ince and Bryan Robson, and then Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt; the standard was so high. It wasn’t a problem if one of those guys was suspended for a few games, because you knew his replacement was just as good.

I’m a little worried for United over the next few weeks, quite simply because Casemiro is so important, and there’s no-one else at his level in the squad. So, while I’m grateful to the guys who helped bring a player of his standard to the club, I also hope they’ll go out and get a couple more in that position in the summer. Man United are a big club; they need more players coming in at Casemiro’s standard, because in moments like this, where he is out for the next four games, you worry about who will be stepping in to replace him. My advice? Please buy more Casemiros!

Antony can learn from my old team-mate Denis Irwin

My advice for Man United fans is to please just be patient with Antony. I really believe the club have a great player in him – there’s no question about it. His problem right now is finding that consistency. One game he’s great, the next not so good. But he’s still so young and I’m confident he can go on to be a success at United. Consistency is such a hard thing to find, though. In fact, there’s only one player I can think of during my time at the club, who I can honestly say was consistently good in every single match and that was Denis Irwin. He’s the only player I know who was at the same level in every game. I would say to all players – including Antony – that Irwin is the level of consistency you should strive for. I’m very lucky to say I played with him – he’s a great guy.

Antony needs time, and that’s all I ask of Man United fans – give him time. I’m sure after one season playing in England – which is a really tough place to adapt to and settle in – he can go on to be a real success. Wait for him, please; he’s a great player.

When I first moved to England, it was a completely different experience for me, compared to anything I’d been used to. When I think back to some of the names I came up against, those tough, old-school, English centre-backs, the Tony Dorigos and so on… it was a really tough experience. My English wasn’t the best at the time, but I can remember hearing and understanding exactly what Vinnie Jones said when I first faced him and he called me a f****** w*****! It was a shock to the system so I’d be lying if I didn’t say it took me some time to get used to. But I got there, and I’m grateful for my time in England, and the support I got from Man United and Everton fans. I thank them so much, because I know at times I wasn’t as good as I wanted to be, but they stuck by me… and that’s what I’m asking them to do with Antony.

Man City will still win the title

Arsenal might be five points clear at the top of the table with just 11 games to go, but I still think Manchester City will win the title. Why? Because they’ve been here before, time and time again. They’ve dominated the division for so long now, and there’s still so much football to play, and such a small gap to overturn. I don’t know why Arsenal dropped off so much towards the end of Arsene Wenger’s reign, but it’s been so long since they have found themselves in this position, and for that reason I’m putting City ahead of them by the end of the season.

.@ErlingHaaland's penalty secured the points at Selhurst Park! 🙌

Highlights 👇 pic.twitter.com/837Thdl3QB

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 11, 2023

I have to say I’m disappointed in Manchester United this season, especially when you look at Arsenal, who are deep into a title race. I was part of the United side which brought the title back to Old Trafford for the first time in many years, and it’s a position we are starting to find ourselves in once again, with the club having not won the league since 2013. These are new times, though, and it’s Man City who are dominating now, so the challenge is on the likes of Arsenal and Man United to get back to where they once were.

I didn’t have a problem moving to Manchester City later on in my career, despite all the years I spent at United. I could understand it being a big issue if I’d have moved directly between clubs. I don’t think that would have been right. But it had been a few years, I’d spent time out of the country, and then I received a call from my old Everton manager, Joe Royle. When he told me his plans, and asked me to be a part of them, I was always going to say yes because of my relationship with him. He’s the reason I made that move with ease.