- Rio Ferdinand emphasized that Arne Slot is not the manager of the season so far
- The Man United legend tipped Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to win the prize
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism is gone at Old Trafford
Rio Ferdinand clashed with Owen Hargreaves over their Premier League Manager of the Season choice.
The former Man United teammates fought in the corners of Enzo Maresca and Arne Slot and fell out over which boss is most deserving of the award so far.
Liverpool and Chelsea sit first and third respectively, while Slot’s men maintain a healthy six-point lead over Arsenal in second, with a game in hand.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand presentsThe six-time Premier League winner made the case in favor of Maresca, citing the Blues’ impressive turnaround from last season where they finished a dismal sixth place.
He said: ‘It’s not a big difference. I just think Maresca came in and took over a team from a circus, a disaster…’
Hargreaves quickly interrupted Ferdinand to give the Chelsea manager credit but gave a direct response, arguing Liverpool’s domestic and European form speak for themselves.
Rio Ferdinand is more impressed with Maresca’s start to the season than with Slot
Hargreaves argued that Slot deserves the award because of Liverpool’s all-around dominance
‘He did an incredible job. But I say if you are at the top of the league, the best team in the Champions League, it is Arne. Not even one [question]he said.
‘No, no, no, I love him. But I say that the level of change within the clubs is very different. [Maresca] has further closed that margin,” Ferdinand replied.
‘[Slot] has had a wonderfully established ship. Ownership in Chelsea is so fragmented that it appears in the newspapers every other day.
‘[Slot] has had a new sporting director, but he is not unstable. It’s still a stable environment. There is no noise. When Klopp was there there was no noise.
‘I’m fighting Maresca’s corner. He’s had to put out more fires than probably half the league. And he trampled them.
“It’s my show, my opinion,” he added sarcastically.
“Get Rio some water,” Hargreaves laughed.
Slot has achieved some impressive results during his short spell on Merseyside, breaking a number of long-standing club and league records.
The Dutchman has won 22 of his 26 games as Liverpool boss so far – a win rate of 84 percent
Only Liverpool (40) have scored more goals than Chelsea (38) in the Premier League this season
His side won 14 of their first 16 league games, making him the most successful Premier League manager in history in that many games.
In addition, Liverpool won the first six away games of the season under the Dutchman, a first for any manager in the club’s 132-year history.
However, goalkeeper Alisson Becker said this current Reds team is not a replacement for the all-conquering side under Jurgen Klopp, who won the Champions League and the Premier League.
Asked if this season compares to 2019/20, when they won their first league title in three decades, Brazil’s No 1 said: ‘I don’t think it’s too similar, they’re two different teams. A few players still play in the team, but we have a slightly different style now.
‘More ball possession, before it was really easy: a lot of transitions, a lot of intensity. That team was very special, we achieved great things, it was the first Premier League title for this club in a long time. We also won the Champions League together.’