Bastian Schweinsteiger Demands Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi Mentality

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has explained his team lack "killer instinct" in front of goal, and said the club's strikers need the mentality of predators such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller to score regularly.

The Manchester Evening News (h/t Stefan Coerts of Goal) quoted the Germany World Cup winner speaking about the Red Devils' problems with hitting the back of the net, and name-dropped three of the best attackers in the game:

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In every game we create chances, but haven’t scored. When that is not the case it is not easy to win matches.

If you miss a chance you have to be unhappy. It is about attitude when you are a striker, a big striker, like a Ronaldo, Messi and Thomas Muller. They want to score goals. They have quality but they want to score goals. You need the attitude that you want to score. 

Our players are not scared in front of goal, no. It is all about the killer instinct. We have players who have the abilities but we need it in every game.

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Schweinsteiger hinted the problems do not primarily lie with United's creative players, but with the club's strikers and front line. However, he also admitted the team's final ball has not been good enough in the danger area, per Manchester Evening News:

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With luck or whatever you have to score. The feeling that the players want to score, we need to have more of this. We are trying. We are creating and that is a good thing. The problem is a mix of everything, it is that last pass. You have to look up to see what is on. We have players who can score goals.

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A chorus of booing was heard around Old Trafford on Saturday against West Ham United, as United registered a fifth goalless draw in their last nine games in all competitions, according to WhoScored.com.

United spent heavily on the midfield in the summer, bringing Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin to the club to support Michael Carrick in the centre, but manager Louis van Gaal put his faith in Wayne Rooney to provide the goals, supplementing the England captain with teenager Anthony Martial.

However, it has been Martial who has been given the No. 9 duties at the Theatre of Dreams, as Rooney has proved his time at the top is coming to an end. 

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WhoScored's Ben McAleer explained United need to maximise the use of Martial, and get the Frenchman back in the goals after a bright start to life in the north west:

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It’s no shock to see United feature so low in terms of chances created this season, with the players fearful of sacrificing possession and regimented into their roles by Van Gaal. The lack of fluidity in the final third is damaging the club’s chances of securing domestic glory and while they have been able to scrape positive results since the opening day win over Spurs, the offensive side of their game needs to improve. 

Martial’s return to form is crucial to that coming to fruition. The goals and assists may have dried up in the league, but the youngster is still a positive for his club in attack.

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Schweinsteiger is correct to directly speak about United's shortcomings, and one of the reasons he was brought to the club was to provide leadership by setting the example. 

The German is a serial winner, and United need to match his expectations if they wish to recapture former glories.

The January transfer window is only weeks away, and Van Gaal must spend to revamp the attack at Old Trafford.

If United can achieve even moderate success in front of goal, their solid defence will ensure a title challenge can be carried over the second half of the season.

Rooney's best days appear to have gone, but the skipper still has a part to play for the rest of the campaign. If the England international can be more economical with his movement, and not find himself too deep in midfield when he is expected to attack, he can add to the goals column alongside Martial and a new January arrival.