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Rio Ferdinand was “shocked” that Erik ten Hag left Man Utd midfielder Fred on the bench for their 2-0 loss to Newcastle at the weekend.
The Red Devils have now been pushed outside of the top four after their latest result but fourth-placed Tottenham, who they are level on points with, have played two games more than them.
Ten Hag decided to play a midfield duo of Marcel Sabitzer and Scott McTominay with Bruno Fernandes playing in front of them – but Ferdinand thinks the defeat to Newcastle was a game for Fred.
“I was shocked that Fred didn’t play. Understanding what’s needed and what’s required for this game, Fred has the energy, the legs, the tenacity,” Ferdinand said on Vibe with FIVE.
“When you’re at St. James’ you’ve got to have people who understand that it’s going to be a physical game and be up for it and have that energy.
“You can criticise Fred for anything but energy, sacrifice and applying himself has never been something you can throw at him as a negative. They are the things that come with Fred as part of his game.
“So I was really surprised when he didn’t start the game. But I feel as a whole team no one took the bull by the horns. They weren’t up for it.”
After winning the Carabao Cup earlier this year, Man Utd still have a chance of glory in the Europa League and the FA Cup – but Ferdinand hasn’t been encouraged by recent displays.
Ferdinand added: “It seems like they’ve won the Carabao Cup and downed tools. They think they’ve done enough, that’s what it feels like.
“We were looking in a really good position [to finish in the top four]. Now it’s a lottery because no one’s got any real vein of form at the minute.”
Ten Hag has been very well received by the Man Utd supporters and it will still be a successful season if they manage to finish in the top four with Gary Pallister impressed with the job the Dutchman’s done.
Pallister told AceOdds:”Well, he’s only been in the job, what, seven months? So I think it’s really hard to answer that question at the moment. Obviously, the one that’s left is very high profile in Cristiano [Ronaldo]. I think he handled that situation really well. I think that’s something that Sir Alex did himself.
“It’s hard as a player to know when to leave, and Sir Alex talked about how difficult it was to let players go who had been so important to his sides and who he had a fondness for as well and respected everything they done for the club. But there came a time when it was time to go and he made them difficult decisions.
“It’s funny, I was watching a documentary last night. I just put it on when I was flicking through the channels, and he was on about saying how difficult it was, and if he had a difficult decision to make he wouldn’t go to bed worrying about it and he’d make that decision before he went to bed so it didn’t keep him up all night.”
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Pallister added: “So it sounds quite harsh, but I think that’s the nature of it. He seemed to get the timing rate whenever he let big names go, whether it was Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes, Steve Bruce, Jap Stam, which I think famously he said he maybe got wrong. Ruud van Nistelrooy, all these kind of players. If he feels as though that’s going to hinder the team progressing, then he’s not afraid to make them big calls.
“As for Ten Hag, I think he handled the leaving of Cristiano Ronaldo really well. I just think he’s got a similar mentality to the gaffer in the way that the players have to know who’s the boss. Can anybody sort of challenge that fact in the dressing room? That was something that he firmly believed in and was steadfast in that when it came to dealing with players or egos that were maybe getting out of line in the dressing room.
“So he’s drawn a line in the sand, Ten Hag, as we saw with the Rashford situation. Whether that was actually the first time that Marcus was late or the second or third, who knows, maybe seemed a little bit harsh if it was only the first time. But that’s where he’s drawn a line in the sand, and the players know where to stand if they want to play in the team. We’ve got to obey his rules.
“So I think that’s what the team’s needed and that’s what he’s brought to the fore, I guess.”
