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Rio Ferdinand: I worry for Manchester United – Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane would struggle in this team
Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand feels that Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane would struggle in this team. The Red Devils are heading into Ruben Amorim‘s first full campaign as head coach off the back of a dreadful season. Ferdinand still has concerns over Man UnitedGetty Man United finished 15th in the Premier League and missed out on their one chance to get Champions League football by losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final. However, this summer has seen the club heavily back Amorim in the transfer market. Despite claims from Sir Jim Ratcliffe earlier this year that the club would go bust and after several staff cuts, the Red Devils have spent over £120 million. That is set to further increase when Benjamin Sesko completes his £74m move from RB Leipzig, giving Amorim a new front three of Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. The club aren’t done yet either, with interest in Carlos Baleba. However, despite the strong transfer window, Ferdinand isn’t totally convinced. Amorim has been heavily backed this summerGetty Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT’s Jim White at the Fanatics launch, he said: “The likes of myself, Nemanja Vidic, the Roy Keanes and the Giggsys [Ryan Giggs] – they’d struggle here. “It is hard to be under that pressure where you can’t see a result coming around the corner or where you can’t see consistency. “All of us would struggle in this environment, but they’ve got to build something together that is going to be unique in Manchester United‘s history.” The beginning of the season is a particular concern for the ex-Man United man. “I am worried about the first six games of the season. It’s a hard start. “I think [it’s] Liverpool, [Manchester] City, Arsenal on the first weekend of the season, so it is a very difficult start. “All of that good work being done on the training field can be undone with a couple of bad results, and we know what it’s like at Man United, the pressure that comes with it. “The tension and the negativity spreads through, and it becomes a difficult place to be. “I hope they get some decent results early on to steady the ship.” Mbeumo and Cunha scored nearly as many goals as Man United managed as a team in the Premier League last seasonGetty Manchester United first six PL games Matchweek one: Man United vs Arsenal – Sunday, August 17 – 4:30pm Matchweek two: Fulham vs Man United – Sunday, August 24 – 4:30pm Matchweek three: Man United vs Burnley – Saturday, August 30 – 3:00pm Matchweek four: Manchester City vs Man United – Sunday, September 14 – 6:30pm Matchweek five: Man United vs Chelsea – Saturday, September 20 – 5:30pm Matchweek six: Brentford vs Man United – Saturday, September 27 – 5:30pm Man United have had a pretty good pre-season, claiming victory in the Premier League Summer Series. However, they are still yet to get rid of several players deemed surplus to requirements. Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Jadon Sancho are among those who are yet to find new clubs ahead of the new campaign. And Ferdinand revealed in another talkSPORT interview that he believes they are all talented but have been sent a clear message by the manager. He said: “Talent, all of them. But what he’s basically said is, if you’re not going to graft and run for me, you ain’t playing.” Garnacho is on Chelsea’s radar, but he’s still a Man United player for nowGetty Further expanding on that, Ferdinand said: “I think the squad’s environment and culture is more important than any individual, and I think that the whole club seems to have bought into that now. “It was interesting to see what Luke Shaw said the other day, you see his quotes saying that, ‘We’ve not got the stragglers around anymore.’ “And, I thought, ‘Whoa, that’s a strong statement to say that,’ but I think that only gets said when you can see positive change within the club, and I think that’s where they’re at now. “And I think Amorim’s been very blunt and blatant, and we always ask for players and managers to be transparent, ‘Come on, tell us the truth.’ “He’s doing that, and one of the main things that comes out of his mouth consistently is, if you’re not going to work hard and produce what I’m asking of you, in terms of just output, forget quality, just output of effort, etc, you ain’t going to play for me.” But after bringing in a new striker and backing the manager, there is more positivity around Old Trafford this year. And Ferdinand can feel that, though he wants at least one more addition. Speaking to White, he said: “They are definitely on the right track in terms of the way they are working together. “The togetherness I saw there was very positive. “I did walk away thinking, ‘please do a bit more in the window’, and they have. “They have bought a number nine and have a front three that scored more goals tha
Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand feels that Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane would struggle in this team.
The Red Devils are heading into Ruben Amorim‘s first full campaign as head coach off the back of a dreadful season.
Man United finished 15th in the Premier League and missed out on their one chance to get Champions League football by losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.
However, this summer has seen the club heavily back Amorim in the transfer market.
Despite claims from Sir Jim Ratcliffe earlier this year that the club would go bust and after several staff cuts, the Red Devils have spent over £120 million.
That is set to further increase when Benjamin Sesko completes his £74m move from RB Leipzig, giving Amorim a new front three of Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
The club aren’t done yet either, with interest in Carlos Baleba.
However, despite the strong transfer window, Ferdinand isn’t totally convinced.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT’s Jim White at the Fanatics launch, he said: “The likes of myself, Nemanja Vidic, the Roy Keanes and the Giggsys [Ryan Giggs] – they’d struggle here.
“It is hard to be under that pressure where you can’t see a result coming around the corner or where you can’t see consistency.
“All of us would struggle in this environment, but they’ve got to build something together that is going to be unique in Manchester United‘s history.”
The beginning of the season is a particular concern for the ex-Man United man.
“I am worried about the first six games of the season. It’s a hard start.
“I think [it’s] Liverpool, [Manchester] City, Arsenal on the first weekend of the season, so it is a very difficult start.
“All of that good work being done on the training field can be undone with a couple of bad results, and we know what it’s like at Man United, the pressure that comes with it.
“The tension and the negativity spreads through, and it becomes a difficult place to be.
“I hope they get some decent results early on to steady the ship.”
Manchester United first six PL games
Matchweek one: Man United vs Arsenal – Sunday, August 17 – 4:30pm
Matchweek two: Fulham vs Man United – Sunday, August 24 – 4:30pm
Matchweek three: Man United vs Burnley – Saturday, August 30 – 3:00pm
Matchweek four: Manchester City vs Man United – Sunday, September 14 – 6:30pm
Matchweek five: Man United vs Chelsea – Saturday, September 20 – 5:30pm
Matchweek six: Brentford vs Man United – Saturday, September 27 – 5:30pm
Man United have had a pretty good pre-season, claiming victory in the Premier League Summer Series.
However, they are still yet to get rid of several players deemed surplus to requirements.
Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Jadon Sancho are among those who are yet to find new clubs ahead of the new campaign.
And Ferdinand revealed in another talkSPORT interview that he believes they are all talented but have been sent a clear message by the manager.
He said: “Talent, all of them. But what he’s basically said is, if you’re not going to graft and run for me, you ain’t playing.”
Further expanding on that, Ferdinand said: “I think the squad’s environment and culture is more important than any individual, and I think that the whole club seems to have bought into that now.
“It was interesting to see what Luke Shaw said the other day, you see his quotes saying that, ‘We’ve not got the stragglers around anymore.’
“And, I thought, ‘Whoa, that’s a strong statement to say that,’ but I think that only gets said when you can see positive change within the club, and I think that’s where they’re at now.
“And I think Amorim’s been very blunt and blatant, and we always ask for players and managers to be transparent, ‘Come on, tell us the truth.’
“He’s doing that, and one of the main things that comes out of his mouth consistently is, if you’re not going to work hard and produce what I’m asking of you, in terms of just output, forget quality, just output of effort, etc, you ain’t going to play for me.”
But after bringing in a new striker and backing the manager, there is more positivity around Old Trafford this year.
And Ferdinand can feel that, though he wants at least one more addition.
Speaking to White, he said: “They are definitely on the right track in terms of the way they are working together.
“The togetherness I saw there was very positive.
“I did walk away thinking, ‘please do a bit more in the window’, and they have.
“They have bought a number nine and have a front three that scored more goals than the whole of the Man United team last year, so that is a definite upgrade, but I am still greedy and want one or two more.”
Certainly, the feeling around Man United is more positive, but it is now down to Amorim and co to deliver.
