Rio begs Man Utd duo to defend like teams of ‘yesteryear’

Will Ford
Rio Ferdinand Man Utd Arsenal

Rio Ferdinand blamed Anthony Martial and Nemanja Matic for their roles in Sheffield United’s winner against Manchester United on Wednesday.

Kean Bryan gave the Blades the lead in the first half before Harry Maguire equalised for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side midway through the second.

But with United expected to push on and turn the result around as they have done on a number of occasions this season, it was instead Sheffield United who claimed all three points.


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Oliver Burke capitalised on some woeful defending to score with the aid of an Axel Tuanzebe deflection to seal the win – only their second Premier League triumph of a wretched season.

And Ferdinand took aim at both Martial and Matic for their defending in the build-up to the goal.

“It’s about the reaction, and I want you to see in a minute, Martial, where he ends up when the ball gets around the penalty box for Man United,” Ferdinand added when analysing the goal.

“He ambles back. I want to see a reaction of him sprinting back. Jogging. In yesteryear that doesn’t happen. They get back here. Look, there’s Martial, two or three passes have gone on he’s still jogging back, ambling back. I want to see intensity. Matic should be doing the same.

“And it’s not just about Martial. It’s not just about him. I could pick a couple out here, and I will. [David] de Gea should clear his lines, get it out of the stadium.

“The ball goes to [Lundstram], please, I’m begging you [Matic], get out. Show me your reaction and intensity. Get out and get the ball. He has his hands behind his back which I hate, too.”

Replays showed Martial and Matic making minimal effort to recover the ball.

“Martial, please sprint to him. Please go out there and affect the man on the ball. He doesn’t,” Ferdinand pleads while analysing the sequence of play. “Please, Mr Matic. Get out there and affect the ball. This is like two, or three passes on the ground.”