Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United must write off the next TWO YEARS in their latest rebuild and urges his old club to ‘humble themselves’ and take a leaf out of Liverpool’s book when they appoint a successor to Ralf Rangnick
- Manchester United were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Watford on Saturday
- Rio Ferdinand believes United have to be patient before winning major honours
- He said the club’s next manager needs at least two years to deliver success
Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United face at least another two seasons in the wilderness before they can compete for major titles such as the Premier League and Champions League.
The Old Trafford legend has urged the club’s hierarchy to take a leaf out of Liverpool’s book with Jurgen Klopp and give the manager who comes in after Ralf Rangnick at least two years to leave his stamp on the squad.
Ferdinand wants to see United focus on the right recruitment for the new style of play under the next boss. Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain and Erik ten-Hag at Ajax are the leading contenders to come in at the end of the season.
Rio Ferdinand has given a sobering assessment of where Manchester United are at
Ferdinand believes United have at least another two years to go before competing for big titles
Ferdinand said United could take a leaf from Liverpool’s book in patience with Jurgen Klopp
‘The problem I have is that Ralf has come in but then you’re going to have to change it again for someone else’s style of football. It’s then going to be another upheaval, new style to implement and players understanding that,’ Ferdinand said on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel.
‘I think personally United have got to write off the next year or two in terms of trophies, minimum – say “we’re going to rebuild what we have, get our recruitment right and there is a certain style of play under this new manager that we are going to go with and he is going to have time to get it all right, there is going to be mistakes, a few things that go wrong but we are going to stick with this guy and give him a minimum of two years to work it out” and see the progress and that development happen.
‘It’s going to take that long, and you can’t have that transition and win. It doesn’t happen. Liverpool didn’t do it. How long did it take Klopp to win? You have to take a leaf out of other team’s books.
‘Sometimes you’ve got to humble yourself and take stock and say in reality, that is where we are at.’
United were held to a 0-0 draw at home against relegation candidates Watford on Saturday. They still occupy fourth but the gap has been closed by rivals West Ham, Arsenal and Tottenham.
Ferdinand admitted that last summer’s signings of players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Rapahel Varane left him thinking United would be able to cut the gap on the leading Premier League contenders in Manchester City and Liverpool.
Ralf Rangnick will step aside as United’s interim manager at the end of the season
Ferdinand admitted signing players such as Raphael Varane had left him and fans excited
But now, he has urged United fans to recognise where the club really is and to accept it will be a while before they are challenging for the major trophies once again.
‘The hype of those signings hyped me up, hyped all the United fanbase up,’ Ferdinand said. ‘But reality has to come and bite and you’ve got to sit back and say where are we really at?
‘United aren’t in a place to win and challenge for trophies, that’s it – the big trophies, Champions League and Premier League.
‘I just feel that sometimes you have to accept where you are. Man United have lived off past successes for too long. This isn’t the Man United of 12-15 years ago. Man United historically should be challenging but where they are now, no.’
United are back in action on Sunday in the Premier League when they take on fierce rivals Manchester City.
