Rio Ferdinand has detailed his concerns for Manchester United under Erik ten Hag this season.
On Thursday the club produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance of epic proportions against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
With Marcus Rashford left on the bench for the first time in 2024, Erik ten Hag's side fell behind from an early goal from Conor Gallagher followed by a Cole Palmer penalty within the first 20 minutes.
The visitors recovered well however, and looked set to secure three points courtesy of a goal from captain Bruno Fernandes and a Alejandro Garnacho brace.
Unfortunately for Ten Hag however, his team were once again unable to maintain a lead in the closing stages, with Palmer adding two goals in stoppage time to secure all three points for the hosts.
With just four points from a possible 15 in their last five Premier League games, United now face an uphill battle to qualify for Champions League football, with Ten Hag admitting as much earlier this week.
Speaking following Man City's win against Crystal Palace, Ferdinand admitted that he is unsure if his former club have made any real improvements in the Dutchman's second season in charge.
'But I think if you just look at the facts of the matter, are Manchester United any further forward than they were at the end of last season?' Ferdinand said on TNT Sports.
'I was sitting there quite, "you know what, actually, I'm looking forward to this season", but it hasn't panned out like that at all. Yes, there's been a lot of injuries. But we're no closer to seeing what an Erik ten Hag team is now than we were day one of this season. And that concerns me a little bit.
'As I said, when we have spoken to him he has mentioned injuries and they have had a lot of injuries. Don't get me wrong, but it's unfortunate everyone has injuries and you've got to deal with it. And they just haven't been able to deal with it as well as other teams.'
The club's injury crisis has been so severe this season that they announced an internal investigation had been opened in a bid to get to the bottom of the issue.
The crisis deepened this week with defenders Martinez and Lindelof ruled out for a month with calf and hamstring injuries respectively, joining Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia on the sidelines.
Bouaeiosuy
0
Sack ETH please
KiwanukaTimothy
1
ratcliff said we need open heart surgery
Roocnotuy
2
manu will buy injured players with best package and see that are finishing the terms with less minutes . lot of examples buying injured players.The tactics is to blame injury when they don't perform. when ineos feels Ashworth and Wilcox will change the future why wasting time buy at any price which is normal for united . buying useless players for big amount and negotiating for usefull people. already 2 months gone for ineos on all buildups can see any progress.when it is said that the 3 key people are avl only in summer next season will be the same. ineos will also give excuses like ETH.
wimlmpru
0
ETH seems to lost it
tiacklnop
0
but same ten hah train Ajax players that won league titles and defeated Madrid to enter ucl semi
Yea but this da Epl right
Lord_B
0
How ten hag couch his players needs to be question. There did the train and how they train
but same ten hah train Ajax players that won league titles and defeated Madrid to enter ucl semi
Colito
0
goalkeeping is OK. in 5 games, you allow 100+ shots on goal, and you only concede about 5 goals. is it a problem with the goalkeeper or defenders?? ETH doesn't have a structure for the team Newcastle had alot of injuries but see how well they were playing our players and the coach they just don't know the reason as to why they are playing it's just to pass some time.
ask klop he will tell you that injuries to the main players is bed. Were is Newcastle in the table compared last season?
Colito
1
what do you expect from using old training facilities. Ronaldo exposed the Glazzers
Kekbdkostz
5
the problem of man u is not the coach,we have got very lazy players, no team spirit, everyone looks to favorites, that's why our problem in the field is not going to get finish , there the one making contributing to the failure of the coach, take a look hw a senior player like rashford to behave on the pitch were thousands of funs are, can't event get ashamed of him self .
weoabisz
0
How ten hag couch his players needs to be question. There did the train and how they train
Good point 👍🏾👍🏾
zizcdips
1
bring back Michael Carrick
Puudkmnort
1
How ten hag couch his players needs to be question. There did the train and how they train
lbcrna
0
Ferdinand, scholes, Giggs Rooney and the rest didn't give Moyes, van gaal, and Mourinho any room for excuse they criticize the team performance every week but now with Ten Hag they're not saying anything
vonacdlptu
3
goalkeeping is OK. in 5 games, you allow 100+ shots on goal, and you only concede about 5 goals. is it a problem with the goalkeeper or defenders?? ETH doesn't have a structure for the team Newcastle had alot of injuries but see how well they were playing our players and the coach they just don't know the reason as to why they are playing it's just to pass some time.
Gentle_gaint
0
That is not the case. Even in the game we made changes for varane and Evans came and he also left what else can you do. Bisaka now play left back. Very hard for united
Yes, very hard... Liverpool Mancity also had injury issues this season They managed it well. Guardiola had no striker for years after aguero But he still scores more goals before haaland came Man-u had no proper DM and it shows in almost all our games back then. What I'm tryna say is... We have a coach not a manager.
soplrstyz
0
When we win, we don't remember we had injuries.... But when we loose, we bring forward the injury list! Our major issue ARE... 1. PLAYING PATTERN(we don't have a playing pattern, even when other teams lost a match, you'd still see they played well) 2. MENTALITY (we always give too much respect for oppositions and always doubt ourselves, we always need extreme motivation before we win big teams) 3. ETH, should have a better relationship with these boys... He should stop majoring on DISCIPLINE, I'm not saying pamper them! But there are lots of ways to talk to adults......
That is not the case. Even in the game we made changes for varane and Evans came and he also left what else can you do. Bisaka now play left back. Very hard for united
soplrstyz
1
Key players injury is a major facto. Last season same affected lipool when vandirk and other people were out for so many months.
Gentle_gaint
2
When we win, we don't remember we had injuries.... But when we loose, we bring forward the injury list! Our major issue ARE... 1. PLAYING PATTERN(we don't have a playing pattern, even when other teams lost a match, you'd still see they played well) 2. MENTALITY (we always give too much respect for oppositions and always doubt ourselves, we always need extreme motivation before we win big teams) 3. ETH, should have a better relationship with these boys... He should stop majoring on DISCIPLINE, I'm not saying pamper them! But there are lots of ways to talk to adults......
MrdeliteLade
1
Bring back Ole
duabcelmtu
2
we have had lots of injuries..and no team can deal with this kind of injuries to key players.lets just accept it's over for Champions league qualification
Vodabknyz
1
he talk shit all the times
Vodabknyz
0
he talk shit all the time
tacbceimor
1
poor defensive and goalkeeping is the major problem. He should replace all the defenders
locabdeipu
1
Injuries and disciplinary issues have caused serious setbacks to Man UTD's season.