Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand expressed frustration following the team’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
The loss adds to the growing concerns surrounding United’s performance this season.
Tottenham took control early in the game, with Brennan Johnson finding the back of the net within the first three minutes. The goal was orchestrated by Micky van de Ven, who surged through United’s defense, setting up Johnson for an easy finish.
The early goal left United rattled, and their woes worsened when captain Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card in the 42nd minute, leaving the team a man down.
Dejan Kulusevski added to United’s misery, scoring just after the break to make it 2-0 for Spurs in the 47th minute. As the match wore on, Dominic Solanke sealed the victory with a third goal, cementing Tottenham’s dominance and ensuring three points for the visitors.
Ferdinand, who enjoyed a trophy-laden career with Manchester United, did not hold back in his criticism after the match.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former defender expressed his disappointment, particularly with the ease with which Van de Ven ran through the team.
“And we’ll get to the red card in a minute, but Van de Ven ran through the whole team. And I look at it and just think, it happened mid-week as well,” Ferdinand said, alluding to United’s recent struggles.
“Where’s the pride, man? Like, I just, I don’t know, that fight doesn’t seem like it’s where it should be.”
The former England international also emphasized that the red card should not serve as an excuse for the dismal performance.
“We were an embarrassment today. The red card shouldn’t be an excuse for anybody at Man United now. It shouldn’t be an excuse for anyone at the football club.”
Ferdinand’s frustrations reflect the concerns of many fans who have been disappointed by the team’s inconsistent displays.
“We were terrible. We were terrible to watch. It was a terrible kind of representation of who we are and what we are right now,” he added, lamenting the team’s inability to retain possession and string together coherent attacks.