‘We’re choked, it’s that simple’: Rio Ferdinand condemns Manchester United out of title race after ‘criminal’ defense caused last breathlessness against Everton
- Rio Ferdinand says United is out of the title race after ‘choking’ against Everton
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a 95-minute equalizer for Everton on Saturday
- Ferdinand believes Man United is guilty of ‘tripping themselves all the time’
- He says Man United should ‘change their habits and their lack of consistency’
Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United are out of the title race after ‘choking’ against Everton on Saturday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side missed the chance to level with Manchester City – which has one more game on their hands – after Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored an equalizing goal for the Toffees in the 95th minute.
Ferdinand was disappointed with United’s performance, saying they are guilty of ‘tripping themselves all the time’.
Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United are out of the title race after ‘choking’ against Everton
With United’s 3-3 draw with Everton, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have fallen five points behind Manchester City.
It also marks another game in which United failed to walk away with three points.
United’s title expectations are starting to wane as they have won only two of their last six league games – with their biggest upset against Sheffield United in the lowest position.
Speaking of United’s fall from grace, Ferdinand told FIVE, “You can’t defend it. At the end of the day, Man United was quite at the top of the league.
Manchester United drew 3-3 on Saturday with Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton squad (above)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin tapped in after a free kick from Lucas Digne to equalize late for Everton
‘We did not expect to become title challengers this season. We were too far behind Liverpool (last season). You can’t expect to get such a big turnaround to win the competition, it’s impossible.
‘But I am like all other fans. You see the rankings, you look at the results, you get excited. If you put yourself in that position, Man United must strike. You are here now and there is a chance.
‘If there is a chance, you should go. The problem is, we’ve let this opportunity slip through our hands. You can see Man City with their experience, they smelled blood, they hit their heads, they are gone.
‘But United has stuttered, we’ve got the choke, it doesn’t quite work. We’re choked, it’s that simple. I would take us out of the title challenge unless we start running and we change our habits and our lack of consistency.
The draw puts Man United five points behind Manchester City – which has a game in hand
Ferdinand criticized Harry Maguire (left) for not leading United’s team from the back
But I haven’t seen enough to suggest that we can hit a winning streak of ten, fifteen games. We stumble ourselves all the time. It’s the top four, we finish second or third. ‘
Ferdinand also criticized United’s defensive structure for Everton’s equalizer, adding, ‘I see Harry Maguire, you have to lead that team from behind and make sure (mistakes) don’t happen.
‘I was furious about the free kick. Aaron Wan-Bissaka needs to understand his game management at this point in the game.
Passing the ball in so loosely to be cut out is criminal. I would have gone crazy screaming in that locker room. ‘
