Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has voiced his displeasure following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against FC Twente in their opening Europa League group-stage match
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has voiced his displeasure following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against FC Twente in their opening Europa League group-stage match. After the game, Ferdinand expressed frustration with United’s talisman, Bruno Fernandes, and manager Erik ten Hag’s decision-making.
🚨 “BRUNO FERNANDES, WE NEED TO TALK…” ⚠️ Ferdinand said in a post-match analysis. “It’s baffling that Bruno wasn’t subbed off during the game, especially when Eriksen looked genuinely shocked when his number was called. If we brought in Mount, why isn’t Ten Hag considering him as a potential replacement for Bruno when he’s struggling?”
Ferdinand didn’t hold back when addressing Fernandes’ recent performances. “Bruno needs to stop treating the ball like a bomb—he’s launching it without even looking up! This style simply doesn’t work in our possession-based game. I’m not saying he should be sold or permanently dropped, but a game or two on the sidelines might help him refoc
He also questioned Ten Hag’s in-game decisions: “Ten Hag should rethink his substitutions. Why not take Bruno off instead of Zirkzee when the game needs a different direction? It’s all about better decision-making moving forward. Let’s hope we see that soon!”
United fans at Old Trafford were left hoping for more after an underwhelming performance, with Ferdinand’s comments highlighting some of the frustrations shared by the fanbase.
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Rio Ferdinand’s post-match analysis following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against FC Twente clearly expressed his disappointment with both Bruno Fernandes’ performance and Erik ten Hag’s decision-making. He was particularly frustrated with Fernandes’ apparent lack of composure, criticizing him for treating the ball “like a bomb” and not looking up before making passes. Ferdinand suggested that Fernandes could benefit from being benched for a couple of games to regain focus, although he wasn’t advocating for him to be sold or permanently dropped.
Ferdinand also questioned Ten Hag’s substitution choices, particularly why Christian Eriksen was brought off instead of Fernandes when the team needed more creativity. He was critical of the decision to replace Joshua Zirkzee rather than make a tactical shift by subbing off Fernandes, arguing that this could have changed the game’s direction.
Ferdinand’s critique resonates with the frustrations of many United fans, who felt let down by the team’s performance and are hoping for more strategic decision-making from Ten Hag moving
forward.
us.”
