“Wilfried Zaha Needs To Grow Up”
Ian Holloway has criticised Manchester United’s Wilfried Zaha, claiming the 21 year old is wasting his potential after failing to make the grade at Old Trafford.
Zaha has failed to make the step up at Old Trafford after he left Ian Holloway’s Crystal Palace in the summer. This week he faced the indignation of being named as a substitute as Warren Joyce’s u21 side took on Middlesborough after turning up late to team meet up prior to the game.
Zaha has made just 4 appearances for United this season, the latest a 5 minute cameo in United’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa in December and with a move to Cardiff imminent, former manager Holloway hopes the move allows him to re-find his feet on the pitch and his focus off it.
Speaking in the Sunday Mirror, Holloway said:
“I hope he uses his sabbatical in South Wales to show United exactly what they are missing.
“Believe me, he is one helluva (sic) player. And he is also a terrific lad, a manager’s dream, in my experience. So, I was surprised by reports during the week that he had been dropped to the bench for a reserve game because he turned up late.
“That isn’t the Wilfried Zaha I know and I am sure that he would not have shown such a lack of respect to his club on purpose. But, as a manager, I can’t condone any player failing to get to a game on time.
“And, again, it’s all about attitude. Or lack of attitude.
“I will always be grateful to Wilf for the role he played in helping Palace to win ¬promotion to the top flight when I was the manager at Selhurst Park.
“And that’s why I have his best intentions at heart when I say the time has come for him to take stock of his life and career and grow up a little bit.
“Because, believe me, there is nothing more tragic than ¬unfulfilled potential.”
Whilst nothing has been confirmed, Zaha is in desperate need of the loan to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. The lack of football has all but killed his World Cup hopes but aged 21 if he can establish himself at Old Trafford he will have many more to contest.