EPL: Sabitzer blames Man Utd struggles on absence of three leaders

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer says he feels sorry for Manchester United players amid the club’s current situation.

Sabitzer also believes Man United’s struggles this season are partly because of the absences of three ‘leaders’: Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw.

Man United currently sit in the eighth position on the Premier League table after losing five matches this season.

The Red Devils’ chances of also reaching the UEFA Champions League knockout phase have taken a hit following defeats to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, respectively.

“You ask yourself, ‘What’s going on?’ There’s a lot of noise, results are not good, and they have had defeats at home, which almost felt unthinkable last season. And there is still the unresolved situation of ownership. You can see what that does to a team,” Sabitzer told The Athletic.

He said further: “I feel sorry for them because they are all good guys and extremely hungry for success. Casemiro, Luke Shaw, and Lisandro Martinez – they are leaders that provide structure and stability to the team.

“Erik ten Hag comes up with very specific match plans and patterns of play. But if you have too many important players missing and too many changes as a result, things get lost between the tactics board and the pitch. The rhythm of players coming is not right, processes are not right.

“In the Premier League and Champions League, you need your best players available. Everything feels a little laboured and uncertain now. They need their big guys to show up and change the course of the season, but I believe things can change quickly once they get important players back.”

Sabitzer spent the second half of last season on loan at Man United from Bayern Munich.

But the 29-year-old’s move was not made permanent, as he ended up joining Dortmund in the summer transfer window.