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Tag: Ferdinand

  • Madrid vs Dortmund: Ferdinand predicts outcome of tonight’s UCL final

    Madrid vs Dortmund: Ferdinand predicts outcome of tonight’s UCL final

    Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand, has predicted the possible outcome of tonight’s Champions League final between Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund.

    Los Blancos will be hoping to clinch their 15th UCL title while Dortmund have made it to the final for the second time in their history.

    Ferdinand has tipped Madrid to win based on their experience ut says he would love to see the German side win tonight at Wembley.

    Ferdinand, speaking on TNT Sports, also predicted a 2-0 victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s men

    The Champions League final will be played at Wembley this year. It is the same venue where Dortmund lost against Bayern Munich in 2013.

  • Qatar 2022: Ferdinand questions Southgate’s quarter-final tactics

    Qatar 2022: Ferdinand questions Southgate’s quarter-final tactics

    Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand questioned Gareth Southgate’s in-game decisions during their quarter final against France.

    The Three Lions were beaten 2-1, with an Olivier Giroud goal sending France into the semis.

    However, England could have equalised through a late Harry Kane penalty, but the Tottenham forward missed his spot kick, having previously converted a penalty to make it 1-1 for England.

    Speaking on the Vibe with Five YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: “Our [England’s] substitutions is where I think Gareth Southgate let us down.

    “I think he’s been pitch-perfect, touch-perfect in almost every decision he’s made up to this point, but you get into a game like yesterday where this is really where it matters now, and I think Gareth Southgate came up short in the tactical element in terms of substitutions.

    “That’s part of tactics, making substitutions, and in-game management and deciding games with substitutions at the business end of a tournament, I think he would hold his hands up maybe in retrospect.

    “I threw a text in the group, and I stand by this: Gareth, in the moment, wasn’t proactive with his substitutions, he was reactive.

    “It hit 1-1 and we’re sitting there going ‘take the bull by the horns, make a substitution, get us on the front foot’. You’ve got Rashford, you’ve got Grealish who can go on, get us on the front foot and change this game.

    “You’re sitting there going, ‘It’s too late, man’. You’ve got to do this when we’ve got the chance of still winning this game and taking the game from them.”

  • Ferdinand believes Matic playing final games for Man Utd

    Ferdinand believes Matic playing final games for Man Utd

    Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand doesn’t believe Nemanja Matic will be at the club next term.

    The veteran Serbian has been in and out of the team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick this term.

    While Matic has outstanding quality on the ball and a lot of experience, he has struggled physically to play several games in succession.

    “He’s a very good footballer in that position,” Ferdinand told the Vibe With Five podcast.

    “Very simple, understands the role very well, covers spaces, he’s physical enough, big enough to handle the physical demands.

    “I really like him, I respect him as a player, but he’s at the wrong end in terms of age and that profile of player.

    “I think he’s got till the end of this season, and I’d be surprised if he’s still in the squad next season. Just based on the age of what he is and where he is in his career.

    “But he’s a great servant to football, done a marvellous job and a great player.”

  • Why Man United will not win EPL title – Ferdinand

    Why Man United will not win EPL title – Ferdinand

    Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand has identified one major reason why the Red Devils will not win the Premier League title again this season.

    The former United defender noted that the Red Devils are unnecessarily dropping points against teams outside of the top six.

    He said that this must stop before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side can think about winning the Premier League title again.

    Manchester United suffered their first defeat of the season at home to Aston Villa on September 25 before drawing 1-1 with Everton on Saturday.

    “I just feel that these games is what we mentioned last season are hurting us, stopping us from contending for the Premier League and it’s creeping in this season already. We got away with it at Villarreal midweek, that was alarm bells there,” he said on Vibe on Five.

    “We dropped points before that, we got beat by Aston Villa and then we dropped points against Everton.

    “Villa and Everton, no disrespect to those teams but we should be winning those games, it’s not a given but if you want to win the league those teams get dismantled and sent back home.

    “If you’re sitting there four or five games ago you sit there thinking we could win the league this year, we’re looking good. But now you look at it and think were still getting the same type of results that messed us up last season, different personnel, same results. “

  • What Ronaldo texted me after Man Utd win – Ferdinand

    What Ronaldo texted me after Man Utd win – Ferdinand

    Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has revealed he received a text message from Cristiano Ronaldo after his late winner against Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday.

    The Red Devils fought back from a goal down, with Ronaldo securing three points with a 95th minute goal.

    And Ferdinand says the Portuguese was confident he would score in the game.

    “He (Ronaldo) text me tonight saying ‘I didn’t’ play well but I knew I’d score,’” Ferdinand said.

    “That’s the belief that he has. The other players are feeding off it. It’s a great place to be.

    “United’s performance today wasn’t great, it wasn’t at the level Ole wants it to be. But when you need a goal, a moment to galvanise the squad, the stadium, the fanbase, Cristiano Ronaldo steps up.

    “He wants to be that guy the chance falls to. His goal record says it all. He’s there for the big moments. He’s a big part of that too.

    “When you have a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, the players in the dressing room are given life. There’s a lease of life, belief, because they know if the chance comes, he will put them away.

    “It gives you that ability to be relaxed. It was the biggest thing in our team. When you get under even more pressure and you can see the clock ticking, you don’t panic. We were very composed because we believed the chances would come.”

  • Ferdinand names Chelsea player as Premier League’s best defender

    Ferdinand names Chelsea player as Premier League’s best defender

    Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has named his pick of Chelsea’s centre-backs so far this season.

    The Blues have emerged as one of the best defensive teams in Europe under manager Thomas Tuchel.

    They are joint top of the Premier League at present, following a 3-0 win over Tottenham away from home on Sunday.

    Ferdinand named Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger has his favorite of their centre-backs at present.

    He said: “Since Tuchel has come I think he’s arguably been the best centre-back. I think him and Dias would have been close but the effect he has had on his team has been immense.

    “Under Frank [Lampard] , it was evident he wasn’t Frank’s cup of tea. He didn’t really like him. There was rumours there were trying to put him in the market to be sold.

    “In Germany, he’s always been highly thought of. But when the manager doesn’t rate you and you can feel that, I don’t care who you are your confidence takes a beating and it’s hard to perform at that level.”

  • Phil Jones responds to Ferdinand’s criticism

    Phil Jones responds to Ferdinand’s criticism

    Manchester United defender Phil Jones has hit back at Rio Ferdinand’s criticism earlier this season.

    Former teammate described him as a “waste of time” at Old Trafford as he is taking up a spot which could be held by a youth team player.

    Jones has now come through to full U23 games injury free this season.

    “Listen, the respect I’ve got (for Ferdinand) is enormous,” Jones told The Times. “I’ve shared a dressing room with Rio — great professional. Loved playing with him. Great lad, good humour. Learnt so much off him.

    “But what he said was poor. Really poor. I’m not into disputes, not into arguments, and if he didn’t know (what has been going on behind the scenes), he didn’t know.”

    Jones also revealed: “It was the lowest I’ve ever been as a human being.

    “I used to come back (from United’s training ground) and be in bits.

    “My head was an absolute mess. I’d be in tears. I’d say to (wife) Kaya, ‘I don’t know what to do’. I remember us both crying.”

  • What I told Ronaldo before Man United deal – Ferdinand

    Rio Ferdinand, a former Manchester United defender, has said that Sir Alex Ferguson would have hated to see Cristiano Ronaldo in a Manchester City shirt.

    Ronaldo made a stunning return to Old Trafford on Friday after days of negotiations with Manchester City.

    The 36-year-old had suddenly decided to leave Juventus, a club he joined from Real Madrid three seasons ago.

    Ferdinand, a former England international, posted a video on the Twitter page of his fashion label, FIVE, which confirmed that he spoke to Ronaldo about a rumoured move to Manchester City, which looked to be on the cards on Thursday.

    Ferdinand said: “Sir Alex Ferguson would have been exactly the same. He would have hated to see Cristiano in a Man City shirt, just like any other person that’s been connected for a long period of time at this football club.

    “I rang him straight away and asked him, ‘What’s going on? Tell me you’re lying.’”

  • Tuchel turned Rudiger into EPL’s best defender – Ferdinand

    Tuchel turned Rudiger into EPL’s best defender – Ferdinand

    Rio Ferdinand believes Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has turned Antonio Rudiger into the Premier League’s best defender.

    Rudiger was on the outer at Stamford Bridge under Frank Lampard, who was replaced by Thomas Tuchel in February.

    The German has since become one of Tuchel’s most important players, and Ferdinand puts him up there with Manchester City star Ruben Dias.

    “Frank’s respectful and I think he’s honest enough to know and would say Tuchel has done an amazing job,” Ferdinand told FIVE.

    “But at the same time I’m sure Frank’s sitting there thinking, ‘well I didn’t see these certain players performing like this when I was there’.

    “But then it’s about Frank looking at himself, looking at his tenure there, did he approach things the right way. I’m sure he’s doing all this, he’s looking at, ‘Could I have handled this situation better, could I have handled that player better?

    “That’s what Frank will be going through and he’ll be looking to make sure he rights the wrongs from his time at Chelsea.

    “But you can’t do anything but respect and pay homage to what Tuchel has done.

    “Look at Rudiger, he’s arguably since Tuchel has been there [at Chelsea], been the best defender in the Premier League. Him or [Ruben] Dias in that time. He’s been unbelievable, he’s like an animal.”

  • Man Utd defender should’ve left years ago – Ferdinand

    Man Utd defender should’ve left years ago – Ferdinand

    Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand has urged Phil Jones to cut ties with the club.

    Jones, who has been at Old Trafford for over a decade, has been out with a knee problem for 18 months and made his comeback from injury in a friendly against Burnley last week.

    Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: “He’s taking up a youth team player’s position in that squad right now.

    “He’s had too many injuries now. I was in the same team as Phil Jones.

    “He came from Blackburn as a young kid and everyone was saying he was going to be this great player.

    “Huge potential but injuries have absolutely annihilated his career and then confidence issues at certain times as well.

    “He’s never been able to fully establish himself in the team. Whether it’s injuries, lack of form, lack of confidence. I think he should’ve gone ages ago.”