Manchester United midfielders offer 'nothing', says frustrated Michael Owen after Champions League draw with PSV

Owen believes Louis van Gaal has his side set out too defensively and believes the midfield offer 'nothing' going forward

Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen criticised Louis van Gaal's defensive tactics (Getty Images)

Michael Owen has joined the growing chorus of former Manchester United players criticising the current team after he claimed Sir Alex Ferguson’s side would “blow away” their Champions League group.

United stuttered to a lacklustre 0-0 draw against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, with both Paul Scholes and Roy Keane launching scathing attacks on Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney respectively, and the result leaves United on the brink of Champions League elimination in two weeks’ time.

Owen joined Scholes in the BT Sport studio to analyse United’s performance, and after the former midfielder accused Martial of playing like he’s “not bothered” about scoring goals, Owen took aim at the make-up of the side and their defensive mind-set.

The former Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and United forward also used the perceived weakness of Group B, which also features Wolfsburg and CSKA Moscow.

“It’s not the greatest of groups either, the Manchester United of old would blow that group away,” said Owen. “We qualified after four games. It is the story of the season, the majority of the time they’ve played like that and managed to nick a goal, a 1-0 here and a 1-0 there.

“Yes they’ve improved in recent weeks but only really two or three really good performances. In general, that’s been the state of affairs and it’s just amazing how they’re still in with a shout of qualifying and flying high in the Premier League.”

The 35-year-old, who made 89 appearances for England during his career, took aim at United’s full-backs and central midfielders, and said he feels the likes of Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger offer “nothing” going forward.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is replaced by Marouane Fellaini after less than an hour (Getty Images)

“They’re set-up to be a defensive team,” Owen explained. “They’re set-up not to concede any goals but they should be having full-backs that we’ve seen for years and years that contribute going forward. They’re brilliant defenders but they contribute going forward.

“At the minute, none of their two midfield players contribute anything going forward, the full-backs contribute nothing, they’re just a defending team with a few attackers and no help from elsewhere.”

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