Paul Scholes' reaction to Manchester United's recent form has been noticeable for its pessimism, even after what others might see as positive performances.
The ex-midfielder, who won countless Premier League titles with the club, emphasised his concern after the comeback win over Atalanta in the Champions League in October, even as others were getting swept up in the second-half turnaround.
That victory was followed by a heavy defeat against Liverpool, and United needed a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal to save a point in Bergamo on their last European away day, but in between those results there was more positivity around a win at Tottenham.
Rio Ferdinand has been among the pundits to operate differently to his former teammate, and the former England centre-back has revealed why he isn't surprised to see Scholes react in the way he has.
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Scholes and Ferdinand won six Premier League titles together at Manchester United, with a decade between the first and last.
The defender got to know a lot about his colleague at the time, long before they ended up covering their former club as pundits.
And Ferdinand has suggested there are parallels between Scholes' punditry and the side seen by the rest of the United squad in the changing room.
"Scholesy’s great because he can’t hold back," Ferdinand told The Athletic.
"He’s honest, very unapologetic, which is refreshing. I’m the emotional fan. He’s more cynical, cold.
"The clip where he’s slumped back in his chair, that epitomises the difference between us. I get carried away and can’t help it. Yin and yang."
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While Scholes the player was sometimes better known for what he did on the pitch than his presence off it, but Ferdinand said there were parallels between the midfielder's punditry and his past.
"You never heard [Scholes], he just had cutting comments," he said.
"Someone would be doing something in the changing room and he’d just say: ‘F****** dick’. He was a funny guy."
While Scholes and Ferdinand haven't agreed on all aspects of Manchester United's season, they appear to have seen eye to eye on the matter of Paul Pogba's role with the club.
The French midfielder was substituted during the draw away to Atalanta, and was left out of the starting line-up for the Manchester Derby.
And both former United players agreed on the issues facing United's record signing, with Scholes saying Pogba "took liberties" in the game and Ferdinand agreeing with his former teammate that the midfielder needed more experienced players around him.
