“Don’t Think Manchester United Eclipses Guardiola & Klopp” – Rio Ferdinand Defends Erik ten Hag Over Leadership Concerns

Days back, soccer veteran Danny Murphy demanded coach Erik ten Hag be sacked by Manchester United. At the heart of this criticism was United’s devastating loss against Bournemouth, in a season already deemed lackluster by many. However, not everyone is so eager to blame the boss alone for the Red Devils’ mishaps. In a conversation before the Bayern Munich clash, club legend Rio Ferdinand ran to ten Hag’s defense.

Per Ferdinand, Erik ten Hag deserves more time, considering his decent stint in the last season. Instead of going all guns blazing on the Dutchman, the veteran laid bare the crucial problem Manchester United must encounter to end their woes.

Rio Ferdinand feels that Erik ten Hag is not the problem at Manchester United

In a recent conversation with Simon Jordan on talkSport, Rio Ferdinand addressed the ongoing ten Hag-United debacle. The veteran defender admitted that the club was struggling due to a lack of a unique playing style. He added that bringing a new manager won’t save the club, if players fail to consistently adhere to a unique style and perform on the field. The host soon asked the veteran if ten Hag was on the level of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. “I don’t think Man United eclipses Guardiola and Klopp. It’s not about just the manager. If you sack the manager and bring another manager now, I reckon we’ll still be here in two years saying the same thing”, claimed Ferdinand.

In light of his earlier point about a lack of uniqueness, Ferdinand added that the culture at Manchester United should be set and changed. Furthermore, the 45-year-old stressed that he believes ten Hag should stay till the end of this season to see how things pan out. The central defender also asserted that ten Hag has been trying to act and change the club’s culture. Then he gave the show hosts a reality check about the club’s plight, albeit changing quite a few managers over the years.

Rio Ferdinand’s reality check on Manchester United’s plight

Manchester United last won a Premier League title in the 2012-13 season, during Sir Alex Ferguson’s final stint as a manager. Since then, seven managers excluding ten Hag, donned the gaffer’s hat at Old Trafford. However, the club failed to reach where it once was. Rio Ferdinand gave this as a testament to reiterate that managers are not always the only problem.

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He questioned the hosts as to why it is the coaches who face flak when the club continues with the same owners, same players, and the same recruiting policies. The former Devils defender stated that a change was imminent at Old Trafford with respect to the club’s culture. Hence, Ferdinand stuck to his assertion that Erik ten Hag deserves time until the end of this season.

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