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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Chris Watson

Rio Ferdinand launches scathing attack on Manchester United and issues stark warning

Rio Ferdinand has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United following their Champions League defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir.

United were beaten 2-1 in their latest group match in Turkey on Wednesday night.

Poor defending contributed to both goals conceded and Ferdinand was left fuming about his old team's performance.

Former Chelsea and Newcastle striker Demba Ba was left with a clear run on goal from inside his own half to score the opener in only the 12th minute.

"Where is the organisation in this team? Demba Ba is alone in an orange shirt. You wouldn't see this on Hackney Marshes," Ferdinand told BT Sport.

"Where are the defenders? The goalkeeper (Dean Henderson) must be sitting there thinking: 'I've not seen this at Sheffield United all last season. I've come to Manchester United - one of the best teams around, a big, massive club - and where is the organisation?'

"Where is the person organising that, dominating that situation? If I'm playing, I'm screaming at someone if I'm on the halfway line: 'Get back'. It's crazy."

An unmarked Edin Visca was then left in "acres of space" to double the home side's lead, before Anthony Martial pulled one back for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men.

Ferdinand added: "I'm begging that someone is in that changing room, dragging people about or asking the question: 'Are you for real? Do you know what's going on there? Where's your responsibility?'

"Who's accountable for this? Is anyone standing up and saying: 'Actually, it was my fault' or digging someone out, finger pointing and shouting?

"Surely, that is happening. I hope it is. I pray to God it is.

"Listen, I hope Ole is doing that, let alone all the players. I hope Ole is in there, in front of people, over people, going: 'Listen, you are embarrassing yourself and me'."

Asked if former United team-mate Solskjaer was likely to take that approach, Ferdinand replied: "It wasn't his personality as a player, no chance. That wasn't what he was about. He was very quiet, he was somebody who took care of his own game, but he was cutting with comments at times when he needed to be.

"I just hope he is very animated in that dressing room, because those players need a rocket, I'm telling you, because the way they are performing at the moment - the inconsistency, the way they are allowing people to run off them... I don't see any intensity at all.

"There's no intensity in the way that they play. I don't see them going up against people and ruffling feathers, on a consistent basis. We might see it one game, we don't see it for two. You can't do that at a top club.

"If you want to be a top club going for trophies and competing, you need that week in, week out, and that's got to be the demands put on everyone, every week."

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