Rio Ferdinand reveals Manchester United players’ agents are asking him to STOP criticising flops for underperforming this season… but Old Trafford legend insists he is not prepared to ‘say sorry for stating facts’
- Manchester United are enduring a miserable season in the Premier League
- They had another afternoon to forget away at Manchester City on Sunday
- Rio Ferdinand slammed the side after they slumped to a 4-1 defeat against City
- And the United legend says a number of players’ agents aren’t happy with him
- Ferdinand claims several of them have asked him to tone down his criticism
Rio Ferdinand has revealed a number of Manchester United players’ agents have been asking him to tone down his criticism of their clients’ poor form.
Ferdinand, who made 455 appearances in his 12-year United career, has not been afraid to take aim at his former club when they have underperformed this season.
On Sunday he was one of several ex-players who blasted their below-par display against Manchester City, which resulted in a heavy 4-1 loss at the home of their neighbours.
Rio Ferdinand says Man Utd players’ agents want him to tone down his criticism of their clients
Ferdinand was one of many ex-players who slammed United stars after their defeat at Man City
Aside from goalkeeper David de Gea, Ferdinand insisted every United player on the pitch let themselves down as they slumped to defeat at the Etihad, which has dented their chances of securing a top-four Premier League finish.
And when discussing his old side’s woes on the Vibe with Five podcast, the former England defender opened up on calls he has been receiving from United players’ agents.
He said: ‘I really, really hope these players are walking in the next day and are going, “I’m embarrassed, my pride and ego has taken a battering and I’m really embarrassed about it, I’ve got to make this right, you get me on that training field and give me every task you want to get this right”.
Ferdinand named David de Gea as the only player who could hold his head high after the game
‘I hope that’s the attitude, I hope that’s what’s in there, I don’t know if it is.
‘I bet there’s a lot of finger pointing. I bet you any money there’s a lot of, “he’s done this, he’s ain’t this, he ain’t that”.
‘The amount of phone calls I get from agents, “oh, can you not say this, why are you criticising so and so”, do me a favour.
‘If I was being vindictive and personal and saying bad things personally about these people I’d get it, I’d take the call and say sorry.
‘But I ain’t saying sorry for stating facts. I ain’t saying sorry for tactically looking at the way people are playing and highlighting situations where you think you could do better there.
‘You [the player] should be saying, “you know what, I know that, I understand, I know, you ain’t got to tell me, I will do better”. It’s not, “oh, you’re digging me out in public”.
‘You should be your biggest critic, you shouldn’t be thinking about what I’m saying, this is my job, I’m paid to do this. Go on the training field and work, don’t worry about me, I’m going to be sitting here talking, my career’s done.
‘When I’m highlighting the positives no one’s calling then, no one’s going, “thanks for that, you’ve done us a favour”. You don’t get that so don’t call me when I’m talking negatively about your player, I’m talking from a tactical standpoint.’
