Rio Ferdinand has some explaining to do.
The ex-Manchester United man feels that the club’s current dire performances aren’t all that far removed from a man who was previously in charge at Old Trafford.
And he’s not talking about David Moyes.
Ferdinand is one of the few Old Trafford legends defending Louis van Gaal after fans saw the club draw yet another game 0-0 midweek in the Champions League.
The result against PSV has put their European ambitions in jeopardy and once again boos rang around the stadium after the scoreless draw.
Van Gaal has been roundly criticised by Paul Scholes and Michael Owen, but in his column in today’s Sun, the former Leeds defender feels that Alex Ferguson’s sides were also a bit boring, especially in his final few years at the club.
“When I was a player my main aim was to win a trophy first and win it playing exciting football second, and that seems to be Van Gaal’s too. It wasn’t always exciting in my day at Old Trafford, either.
“Certainly during the final three seasons under Sir Alex it was more a case of us getting over the line than anything cavalier.”
“However, there was certainly a lot more ambition and threat in our play than there is currently with United.”
We’d be fairly sure that no Manchester United team struggled for so long under Fergie in his time, and players never took at least five touches before trying to play the ball to an opponent.
Ferdinand also feels that fans are being ungrateful as the club could be top of the Premier League by tomorrow afternoon.
“United have lost just once in their last eight games in the league and Europe. They have kept 14 clean sheets from their 22 games in all competitions.”
“They could also go top of the Premier League tomorrow and still have it in their own hands to reach the knockout stages in the Champions League.”
And that, Van Gaal will tell you, is the bottom line.
