Manchester United players have gone from gladiators to drama queens, but Dr Shantini Kulasingam believes Erik ten Hag can return the winning mentality to the team.
She said when former manager Sir Alex Ferguson was the boss, United’s players were like gladiators who fought tooth and nail in every game.
“Each time I watched them play, I never thought of defeat,” said Dr Shantini, who owes her love of football to a Liverpool-supporting cousin.
“But since Fergie retired (in 2013), the players have gone soft. They are more like drama queens.
“The club wasted money buying substandard players who do not have the heart to fight. (Paul) Pogba was more interested in showing off his latest hairstyle than tackling or tracking back.
“The club’s new manager, ten Hag, is the man to sort them out. He has already stamped his mark and got them playing better football.”
Another player she cannot stand is Harry Maguire, whom she labelled United’s “worst captain, worst centreback, worst signing, a waste of space, and someone who makes those around him lesser players”.
She said it was no coincidence that United started winning after ten Hag benched the England international, and hopes Maguire leaves in the January transfer window.
Although she fell in love with football from a young age, Dr Shantini revealed she only started supporting the Red Devils after she returned from India in 2000.
“My cousin, who called himself Keegan Arjun after former Liverpool player Kevin Keegan, got us to play football with the neighbours,” said Dr Shantini, who was 10 years old then.
“That was when I fell in love with the game. Growing up in Kota Bharu (Kelantan), we only had RTM1 and RTM2. There were hardly any live matches, so I did not know who to support.
“When studying medicine in India, it was all about cricket. I hardly watched any football until I got back to Malaysia in 2000.
“I began watching Manchester United and loved the players’ never-say-die attitude. That was what drew me to them.”
Since then, she has been a die-hard supporter and plans to visit Old Trafford in the next year or two.
“I also want to visit the training ground (Aon Training Complex) as I heard there are tours where you can meet the players,” said Dr Shantini, who said the Red Devils did good business during the transfer window.
“We bought some fantastic players, and the defence is looking solid again.
“If we had sold Maguire to Chelsea, I would have rated it a perfect window!”
On a more serious note, Dr Shantini said the time is right for Cristiano Ronaldo to say goodbye.
“Ronaldo is a club legend, but he is 37. Perhaps he should retire (after the season ends) or leave in the January transfer window.
“But, where can he go? He can only join an elite club, but how many want him? It would be beneath him to join a lesser club, so perhaps he should end his career with us.”
United is fifth in the table after six matches, only three points behind league leader Arsenal. Dr Shantini, however, is not thinking of a title charge.
“This season is about rebuilding. I will be happy with a top-four finish and a good run in the cup competitions,” said Dr Shantini, who now practices in a diagnostic centre in Petaling Jaya.
“Ten Hag needs time to rectify the mistakes of the past. It will take a while before United start challenging for the title again. The club finally has a good manager. Those who came after Ferguson failed to live up to expectations.”
FIXTURES (Malaysian time)
SATURDAY
Wolves vs Manchester City (7.30pm)
Newcastle vs Bournemouth (10pm)
SUNDAY
Tottenham vs Leicester (12.30am)
Brentford vs Arsenal (7pm)
Everton vs West Ham (9.15pm)
