Manchester United's downfall has reached a point where Rio Ferdinand's contacts don't even bother messaging him with stick after their latest embarrassing result
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has claimed that losing has become so regular for the Red Devils that he doesn't even receive calls or messages after they drop points anymore. United endured another abysmal performance when they lost 2-0 to West Ham United at Old Trafford last Sunday.
The sacking of Erik ten Hag and subsequent appointment of Ruben Amorim in November was hoped to be a turning point for the club. However, with Amorim at the helm, United's league victories have been meagre, totalling just six in 26 matches with the most recent coming against since relegated Leicester City in March.
Ferdinand has now explained how United's consistent poor run in the league has become such a formality that people outside of the club have become indifferent to the three-time European Cup winners. Asked how he feels about the current situation at Old Trafford by TNT Sports Mexico, the 46-year-old said: "The same as the manager, it's been a terrible season.
"Man United, to be 17th is embarrassing. It's difficult, I don't even get people calling me or texting me anymore when Man United lose. It's normal. This is what it feels like.
"It's hard, especially me, I'm a pundit in the media, I'm about, I'm not even getting people taking the mickey out of me anymore. It's unbelievable." On his own podcast, Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former defender theorised that Amroim could be looking to execute a significant shakeup of the squad.
"I think he looks around the dressing room and thinks, 'If I could wave a magic wand, in the next five years at least 50 per cent of this team wouldn't be here.' Because they're not good enough and they're not right for the way he wants to play," Ferdinand argued.
"I look at him and think that he needs, minimum, two good windows of getting rid of the ones he doesn't require, but also getting in players that he really needs. There has to be a lot of things to go right for us to make a dramatic turn on this.
"He's coaching the team to understand what he wants, which has led to him getting terrible results in the Premier League consistently." Ferdinand isn't the only United legend to call for a complete revamp of the squad, with Gary Neville warning that it won't be easy to revert back to winning ways so soon.
Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Neville said: “You’re talking about eight to 10 players have to go. They’re going to have to pay to get them out."
United face Chelsea on Friday evening before wrapping up their domestic season against Aston Villa at Old Trafford a week on Sunday. They're yet to reach 40 points and could even finish just outside the relegation places in 17th.
Despite the misery, United do have a Europa League final on the horizon and a huge chance to salvage their season with a way into the Champions League when they face fellow strugglers Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao next Wednesday.