Paul McGrath knows a thing or two about bossing opposition strikers about at Old Trafford.
The former Manchester United centre-half appeared over 150 times for the Red Devils and has been rating the defenders currently at Louis van Gaal’s disposal.
The former Republic of Ireland international discussed Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind with fan channel Stretty News.
“I think Chris [Smalling] has now established himself as the number one,” McGrath said. “You can do that for three or four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks but you’ve to keep it going. You can take your foot off the gas once or twice. Chris is a really good player and, to be honest, I admire him.
“Jones is another one who I think is going to be a hell of a footballer and he’s just coming back from injury. Rojo, as well. I think United are actually going to do really well but I just think we need a steady back four that are going to… I’m impressed with the way they’re going. They’re going in the right direction.”
It was Daley Blind, though, who was singled out for particular praise by the United and Ireland legend.
“You need someone who can take the ball down and go ‘no, I’m not just going to lash it forward or play it square,’ and Daley Blind is a beautiful footballer.
“And I would love to have played with someone like that, with someone who’d pass it across to you and say ‘you deal with it now and if you need to give it back to me, give it back to me.’
“Daley Blind is one of those and, I swear to Christ, he’s going to be a huge United player.”
