Rio Ferdinand not 'panicking' after Liverpool loss but says next match will show Manchester United 'mentality'
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Updated 07/03/2023 at 15:11 GMT
Manchester United suffered a crushing defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, but former United defenders Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra said they were not completely surprised by the result. Ferdinand and Evra also spoke about the importance of the next game for United and captain Bruno Fernandes' "embarrassing" body language, which has come in for criticism.
Ten Hag claims Man Utd players 'did not do their jobs'
Rio Ferdinand is not “panicking” after Manchester United’s 7-0 thrashing by Liverpool, but says the next game will reveal plenty about the team.
Manager Erik ten Hag said United were “really unprofessional” as they suffered the joint-heaviest defeat in their history.
It was United’s first defeat since they were beaten 3-2 at Arsenal in January, while they have also lost 6-3 at Manchester City and 4-0 at Brentford this season.
“The scoreline is a shock, the result isn’t,” former United defender and BT Sport pundit Ferdinand said on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE on YouTube.
“Man Utd can easily get beat away with the way they have been over the last six or seven years. We got lulled into thinking that Man Utd were on a roll and can go anywhere.
“I am only to start panicking if we get beaten on Thursday [against Real Betis in the Europa League], or Southampton at the weekend. That will tell me where this team is mentally.”
The crushing defeat to Liverpool has dampened talk of a quadruple bid for United, who won the Carabao Cup last weekend.
They are now 14 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, having played a game fewer.
“At Anfield you can’t show any form of weakness, and that’s what happened yesterday,” added Ferdinand.
“They didn’t understand where they were. Until you go there and play as a Man Utd player you will never understand, it’s a cauldron, it’s fire.”
Ferdinand’s former team-mate Patrice Evra also says he was not completely surprised by the result, and believes Ten Hag is “already doing a miracle” with the team, having taken over last summer.
“I was in shock with what happened with the result because I was expecting United to win comfortably, but I wasn’t surprised. Why? Because [although] this United team is back in the right direction but it’s going to be a rollercoaster," said Evra.
“Against City we watched them play, then we beat them at home. You see this team is not a strong United team. You recognise a strong United team when you are losing.
“I never get carried away because this team, they are going in the right direction but they are not ready. Of course I would think about the title as a fan and former player but I never thought they would be able to win because it’s a process.
“Ten Hag is already doing a miracle, people forget where we came from. We already have a trophy. It’s a massive loss, but let’s not forget what this team is doing.”
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes came in for criticism after the match for his body language, which included throwing his arms up in the air in frustration and going down theatrically after taking a hand to his upper chest.
“It was embarrassing,” said Evra.
“I love Bruno as a player but his body language – this is not the first time it’s been like that. I have seen him arguing with players and he needs to get rid of that.
“I remember Paul Pogba used to have this at Juventus and [Massimiliano] Allegri benched him because of that. Sometimes it’s a habit, and I feel like no manager has taught him you can’t do that.
“When I see this body language as a manager, those players wouldn’t play in my team, no matter if they are good, because it’s disrespectful.”
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