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Former Man United star Rio Ferdinand has claimed the current side need leaders amid their current struggles, insisting Erik ten Hag’s side are too emotional.
The Red Devils face Chelsea on Thursday evening before a crucial clash with rivals Liverpool on Sunday as they look to close the gap on the Champions League places.
Ten Hag’s side went into the match on the back of a dismal performance in a 1-1 draw against Brentford, with the Bees scoring 31 shots.
In total, Man United have had a hundred shots on target in the last four games.
Ferdinand, speaking of the Stick with the football podcastis sponsored by Sky betsaid he would call for more protection if he had played as a centre-back in the current Man United team.
Man United drew 1-1 with Brentford last weekend, with the Bees scoring 31 shots on target
Rio Ferdinand believes that Erik ten Hag’s team at Manchester United is ’emotional’ and lacks ‘rigidity’
Ferdinand believes Man United need leaders to make the team stronger when they face Liverpool
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The former Man United star stressed that the team needs leaders to keep players in position, suggesting that Ten Hag’s side are too emotional.
“You need leaders who talk and drag people into games,” Ferdinand said. ‘How many times would you (Gary Neville) say to someone, ‘Just sit down for the next few minutes and stay calm, it’s hard to play against.’
‘I think there is a lot of emotion in this team (Manchester United). ‘They are quite emotional players; they just go crazy sometimes – there is no rigidity in this team.”
Ferdinand, who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League at Man United, had responded to Jamie Carragher’s ongoing concerns about the Red Devils’ approach.
The former Liverpool defender said Man United ‘look like two separate teams in one’, with the front five leaving huge space by trying to apply pressure.
Ferdinand questioned the lack of protection for Kobbie Mainoo despite the 18-year-old’s impressive performances in his breakthrough season.
He urged that experienced players in the team should take responsibility to ensure that Mainoo is not let down and that structure is maintained in the team.
‘Look at Kobbie Mainoo, who everyone is enthusiastic about, and rightly so. He has been fantastic since he joined the team. But I don’t see anyone trying to protect him,” Ferdinand said.
‘He’s a child. Imagine if a young child comes onto one of our teams, you try to protect that child.
The former Man United star claimed Kobbie Mainoo was let down by his teammates
‘There’s only one person, like Wayne Rooney, who you don’t have to protect, but you want to make sure there are bodies around, don’t leave him exposed.
“How many games do you see him being left exposed? Imagine that feeling, when you are exposed in that midfield, it is a lonely place there when there are big spaces.
“There need to be older players and coaches in that team to make sure they make it more exciting for that player, especially for next weekend’s game (against Liverpool).”
Man United face a crucial week as they attempt to close an 11-point gap on fourth-placed Aston Villa in the Premier League, with Ten Hag’s side having two games in hand against Unai Emery’s men.
The Red Devils sit sixth in the table ahead of games with Chelsea and Liverpool, nine points behind Tottenham in fifth place.
Man United will aim to repeat their FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool on Sunday.