Rio Ferdinand has accused Jose Mourinho of being too negative as Manchester United manager. Mourinho is under pressure to deliver in his third season in charge at Old Trafford, having failed to win a single trophy last campaign.
Our prediction is that he doesn’t even see out 2018/19 in the United hotseat, and Ferdinand suggests his mood is impacting on that of the entire club.
“There’s too much negativity coming out of Manchester United at the moment,” said Ferdinand, as quoted .
“When you are part of a squad and you hear a lot of negativity and no positive sounds coming out of the person that is running your club — sitting on the outside it doesn’t bode well.
“If I was a young player and listened to and read what he said about the youngsters who aren’t going to play a part at all this season — it doesn’t fill you with confidence.
“I was a young player once. When you get an opportunity to go away with the first team on tour you see that as the best opportunity ever.
“But it seems with his comments the manager has just shut those avenues down and shut the confidence and belief of a player.
“He has dug out Ed Woodward over the past couple of weeks and put pressure on to get his players in because he is frustrated but I think you need positivity in a squad.
“Whether he is doing that behind closed doors, who knows? But the public perception right now is of a negative state of mind within the club and that’s not good.”
Rio Ferdinand also warned Manchester United not to sell Paul Pogba. With speculation about the France midfielder’s future once again rife amid reports of interest from Barcelona, former United defender Ferdinand has told executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to keep the 25-year-old.
Manager Jose Mourinho has already predicted a “difficult season” if United do not do more business, so losing a World Cup-winning midfielder would only add to that.
As a result, Ferdinand – who made over 450 appearance for United – wants Pogba to stay and Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld to come in.
Referencing reports that Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, is looking at the Nou Camp as a possible new home for his player, Ferdinand said: “Don’t you dare allow this ED… #MUFC is Pogba’s home!! Silence these rumours ASAP & get @AlderweireldTob through the door.”
That last part really should happen.
United start their Premier League campaign on Friday at Leicester and, speaking on Sunday, Mourinho told MUTV: “My CEO knows what I want and I still have a few days to wait and see what happens.
“The other clubs who compete with us are really strong and already have fantastic teams. Or they are investing massively like Liverpool, who are buying everything and everybody.”
Previously Ferdinand thought Paul Pogba demonstrated the kind of form for France that persuaded Manchester United part with £89million for him.
Pogba was one of France’s best players as they beat Belgium 1-0 to book a place in the FIFA World Cup final with Samuel Umtiti scoring the winning goal.
And Ferdinand has hailed Pogba’s performances at the World Cup, while he also had praise for Kylian Mbappe.
“Yes, I think (Kylian) Mbappe was great,” Ferdinand said.
“But also, Paul Pogba today showed why he went for so much money.
“His discipline, which he’s been called out for beforehand, seemed to come into play.
“There’s an understanding about his game, a maturity today in this game.
“Not just today, but in this tournament he’s grown and grown and grown.
“He emerged out of this game as the midfielder on the pitch.”