Rio Ferdinand has handed a number of Manchester United players praise for their performances against Barcelona on Thursday, including goal-scorers Fred and Antony.
Strikes from the Brazilian duo saw United overturn a 1-0 half-time deficit to see the club progress through to the Europa League last-16 with a 4-3 aggregate scoreline. The Reds will face Real Betis in the next round with United still in all four competitions this season.
After Sunday’s League Cup final against Newcastle, Erik ten Hag’s side face West Ham in the FA Cup before starting March with a trip to Liverpool in the Premier League. After watching his former club defeat Barcelona at Old Trafford, Ferdinand said he is “feeling something” about the team and praised five players for their work.
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“I am not going to say ‘we’re back’ I am not going to get overhyped and go too far and become a meme but I am feeling something,” Ferdinand told FIVE. “I am feeling something.
“Fred - he has come in for a lot of stick Fred, he has shown character, he has shown a heart and he has come good. Big moment, comes in, bang. Hits it bottom corner.
“Gaffer makes a couple of substitutions, who scored the winner? Antony! Antony! That’s what you want to see, people coming off the bench making an impact, not sulking, adding to the cause, getting us through to the next round.
“Weekend, Carabao Cup final we are going to be in there. Newcastle are going to get put down, I said 2-1 today [vs Barcelona] I am going 2-0 at the weekend. [Nick] Pope’s out, Newcastle are out of form, Man United in form and we are on the crest of a wave right now but I am not getting carried away.”
Ferdinand went on to note the defensive stability of centre-back pairing Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, who were only beaten on the night by a Robert Lewandowski penalty.
He also hailed the work of Alejandro Garnacho, who sported his new bleached hairstyle for the first time at Old Trafford, something referenced by Ferdinand. He said: “Varane and Martinez, it was nice to sit there as a fan and admire and just go ‘Woah’. Martinez is like the leader at the back.
“Varane just cool as you like, just calm and made a great block at the end but Martinez throughout the game was aggressive, rugged, can pass over various distances, can take the ball anywhere. I love it.”
Ferdinand added: “Garnacho comes on and just says: ‘Barca? Give me a bit of that now’, I am feeling the barnet. When you are playing well you can have what barnet you want.
"It’s when you are losing and you are not in a good place in the league getting mad haircuts it just doesn’t sit well with people. Kid is on fire, new contract, comes on against Barcelona and roasts a few, says ‘Listen I don’t respect no-one’.”
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