May 13th 2024.
Former Manchester United player, Rio Ferdinand, has expressed his concerns about the team's playing style under current manager, Erik ten Hag. According to Ferdinand, one of his main criticisms of ten Hag is the lack of a clear and distinguishable playing style since he took over two years ago.
This comes as United find themselves struggling in eighth place in the Premier League table, after suffering two consecutive defeats. The latest being a loss at home to league leaders, Arsenal.
The uncertainty around ten Hag's future has led to speculations about potential replacements, with names like Gareth Southgate, Roberto De Zerbi, Ruben Amorim, and Zinedine Zidane being thrown around.
However, ten Hag remains adamant that he is the right man for the job and is determined to end the season on a high note by winning the FA Cup final against Manchester City later this month.
United's recent form has been affected by a string of injuries, with 11 first-team players missing in their match against Arsenal. This has forced ten Hag to make changes, including playing Casemiro as a makeshift center-back.
Following United's 1-0 loss to Arsenal, ten Hag pointed out that the team's injuries have made it difficult for them to win consistently. Ferdinand sympathizes with the manager, stating that United has had a high number of injuries, especially in their center-back position.
He also acknowledges that United needs to do better, as shown by Arsenal taking six points off them this season. Ferdinand believes that United should not just settle for being an "also-ran" team, but should aim to compete for the league title.
However, he also recognizes that football goes through cycles and United might currently be going through a period of mediocrity. He hopes that the team can learn from other clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool, who have successfully turned their fortunes around.
Ferdinand is unsure if ten Hag is the right man to lead United forward, as the team is yet to establish a clear playing style under his management. Despite the injuries, Ferdinand believes that a team's style of play should remain consistent, but he does not see that with United at the moment.
He also questions whether ten Hag is coaching his players effectively, as a manager's style of play should still be recognizable, even if the team's quality has dropped.
In conclusion, Ferdinand believes that United needs to do better and have a clear playing style. While he is unsure if ten Hag is the right manager for the job, he acknowledges that the team's injury woes have made it difficult for them to perform consistently.
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