MICHAEL OWEN lambasted three Manchester United stars for "sleeping" throughout Sunday's miserable loss at Tottenham. United suffered yet another poor result amid a turbulent campaign as fellow Premier League strugglers Spurs picked up a much-needed 1-0 victory thanks to James Maddison's winner after just 13 minutes. Ex-Man Utd star Owen, 45, was left fuming with Ruben Amorim's three centre-backs Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Harry Maguire and put them on full blast during his post-match analysis.
![[Photo of Michael Owen, Amazon Prime pundit.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amazon-prime-pundit-michael-owen-972807862.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The Liverpool legend blamed them all for Maddison's goal as they "did nothing" when goalkeeper Andre Onana parried Lucas Bergvall's shot. None of them chased the rebound and that allowed the England international to get to the ball first and beat Onana from close distance. The legendary striker, though, wasn't just frustrated about the Tottenham goal as he was also incensed with Maguire, De Ligt and Mazraoui's overall performance during the game.
![[Harry Maguire of Manchester United during a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/harry-maguire-manchester-united-looks-972810016.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Owen told Premier League Productions: “What frustrates me more than anything about the Manchester United team is that those centre-halves do nothing during the game. “They hardly pick up any players at all, yet when you ask them to do one job – stop the guy who’s shooting – they’re sleeping at that as well. “We’ve seen so many clips in the first half when there’s nobody to pick up, there’s three of them literally doing nothing. They won’t push in, they won’t go and mark anybody, they just sit there.
![[Matthijs de Ligt of Manchester United playing soccer.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/club-league-logos-live-services-972838824.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
“It’s the easiest position on the pitch in theory because they’re asked to do nothing. The manager plays so many defenders and none of them are picking anyone up. “The midfield for Manchester United has to be the hardest place to play in the Premier League and the defence should be the easiest because they literally mark no one, ever. “They sit there doing nothing and everyone else is outnumbered all over the pitch.”.
![[Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United during a Premier League match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/club-league-logos-live-services-972838161.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
