Erik needs a hand to fix United’s foundations
FERDINAND: PROBLEMS TOO DEEP FOR ONE MAN
RIO FERDINAND believes Erik ten Hag cannot fix all of Manchester United’s problems on his own.
Ferdinand says that new joint-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe needs to repair United’s broken foundations, if the fallen giants are to get back to the top of football again.
Ratcliffe and his INEOS group bought a 25 percent stake in United for £1.3billion and will be in charge of the club’s football operations.
But former United star Ferdinand believes Ratcliffe’s job will involve much more than just signing better players and that the whole structure of the club needs looking at.
Ferdinand, who won 10 major trophies with United between 2002 and 2014, said: “What we’re finding now is that it’s not one thing that will fix this. “One manager isn’t going to fix it. We’ve had different managers with different levels of experience – and it has been the same outcome. “They’ve been shown the door. So, what else is it? “It’s the framework of the club, the structure behind the scenes.
“I just hope the new guys who are coming in, the INEOS Group, who have experience in different sports, but also football, can really shape the club into a well-oiled machine that will begin to know how to function off the pitch. That can filter through to the team. Because if it’s not functioning behind the scenes, then on the pitch it’s not going to happen.
“Look at how the best clubs are run. Foundations of the club give you a chance and a platform to perform.”
Ferdinand believes Ten Hag remains the right man to manage United but admits he needs to start finding more consistency from his strugglers.
He told the Obi One Podcast: “I like him. I can see he’s desperate to win. He’s desperate to make a change and make it work.
“He’s very diligent, meticulous and is one of those guys who is trying to work things out to make his team better. To make his team win.
“Unfortunately, the team hasn’t shaped up and found consistency. That’s one of the key words – consistency.
“You get a performance out of Manchester United, and you think they’re back. They do it to us all the time as fans.
“Then they fall over again and produce one of those performances we’ve become used to, where it’s drab and a bit off-beat.” United have fallen out of the title race – because they were never in it to begin with. But Ferdinand, a six-times league winner with United, believes the Premier League trophy will still be in Manchester come the end of the season. He said: “Because Arsenal don’t have a No.9 who is going to get 25 goals this season they’re going to come up short again. “City have the experience, know-how and talent – and they have Pep Guardiola.”