'Like basketball' - Chelsea and Manchester United 'have no control', Red Devils need 'clear heads' - Rio Ferdinand

Manchester United and Chelsea both lack the “control” required to succeed, says Rio Ferdinand, who called out the Red Devils’ lack of leadership after a dramatic defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Erik ten Hag’s side came from two goals down to lead 3-2 deep in stoppage time, but conceded twice in less than two minutes to throw the game away and lose 4-3.

Cole Palmer scored both of the Blues’ late goals to complete a hat-trick and was left completely unmarked from a corner to score the winner in the 101st minute.

“Neither side had any control. It was like a basketball match, up and down. You attack, we attack,” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports.

“That’s the worrying thing for both of these teams. Yes, Chelsea will indulge in this, and they will enjoy it for tonight.

“But when the dust settles, Chelsea and United have got to look at themselves and say that they have to find an element of control.”

United’s porous defence is a particular cause for concern, with the Manchester club facing a remarkable 225 shots so far in 2024.

“There is no team in Europe’s top five leagues that has conceded more shots on goal than Manchester United in 2024. It’s a huge number,” Ferdinand said.

“That has to be sorted out. If you want any type of success, you have to gain some sort of control, settle the game down, manage games, manage moments. Neither of these teams at the moment seem capable of doing that.”

When it was put to him that United seem to perform better in more chaotic and open games, Ferdinand said: “Those traits don’t win big titles, simple as that.”

Former England and United centre-back Ferdinand, who won six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League as a player, was stunned by the lack of organisation for Chelsea’s winning goal.

With the seconds ticking down, Palmer was left completely free just inside the area and had time to gather a pass from a corner and fire home a finish with the aid of a deflection.

“You need someone in your team that has the clear head. That does point and shout and drag people about,” Ferdinand said.

“In those situations, at a corner, a set piece, a last play at a late stage of the game, you look for who is their best header of the ball? Get him. Who is the best player?

“Harry Maguire is in there, Bruno [Fernandes], they are leaders, big characters, experienced players. But you need to find someone to do it.

“You can’t be getting in that space at the stage of the game after scoring two and being the most dominant Chelsea player on the pitch. You’ve got to identify that.”

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