Manchester United left-back Daley Blind feels club legend Gary Neville was unfair in criticizing his playing style, and insists that there is nothing wrong in trying to keep possession.
The former Red Devilsa skipper and now TV pundit, Neville, said that the Dutchman was choosing to take the easier option by a making too many square passesa following the sidea s disappointing start to the new season.
But Blind, who was brought to Old Trafford by former national coach Louis van Gaal in August last year to sturdy the defence, feels that his stint with United so far has been a success and insists that he will not change his way of approaching the game for the fear of scrutiny.
a I can take a bit of criticisma , the 24-year-old was quoted as saying by the Telegraph.
a The people on television can say what they want, you hear it, but I think I have played some good games.
a Of course, I listen to him (Neville), but I try to play my own game and do what the trainer wants from me and that is to keep possessiona , the former Ajax player continued.
a It is important to keep the ball and make the opponent more tired.
a It is all about waiting for the right moment. Sometimes the space is there, but other times you have to keep the ball and wait for an opening.a
Blind has had a consistent start to his season in England, featuring in 10 league games with one goal to his name, despite being out for two months due to a knee injury.
And the player has said that in spite of severe criticism of their tactics this season, he will continue to keep possession of the ball and urged the cluba s supporters to be a little more patient with a rebuilding side.
a Of course, you can sometimes play the ball forward. But sometimes it is good to keep the ball in possession and make your team mates play bettera , Blind said.
a I can make other players more important than myself. If I can do that by switching the play to the other side or wait for the right moment to do that then I will.
a I like the possession game and to keep the balla , he further explained.
a If you have played another system for a long time, you have to get used to a new one, but that isn’t a problem.
“It doesn’t happen overnight. You can’t always switch something in a day and it can take longer, but I feel we are improving every week and every gamea , Blind added.