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Rio Ferdinand Explains What Cristiano Ronaldo Would Have Told Manchester United Teammates

Rio Ferdinand Explains What Cristiano Ronaldo Would Have Told Manchester United Teammates

Ronaldo was left out of United's starting line up against Everton but was on the pitch when Andros Townsend made it 1-1 and wasn't happy.

Rio Ferdinand explained that Cristiano Ronaldo was telling his teammates to stop the Everton counter attack, that led to their equaliser, by any means necessary.

Ronaldo was left out of United's starting line up on Saturday, as they failed to win for the fourth time in the past six games, and was extremely unhappy at full time, marching straight off the pitch.

The huge summer signing was on the pitch when Andros Townsend grabbed a deserved equaliser in the second half, with the Everton forward copying his idols celebration.

Townsend's goal came from a counter attack from United's own corner and, after the match, Ferdinand explained that Ronaldo was telling his teammates to stop the goal however they could, by taking out an opponent.

"Man United at that time, Cristiano says take him early in the play," the former United defender told BT Sport.

"The foreign teams are cute in those positions and counter-attacks with cheeky fouls would’ve stopped and prevented that.

"You can see him there, telling them 'take him out, smash him.'"

Luke Shaw was heavily criticised for his involvement in the goal, coming across to cover in the middle and allowing the Toffee's goalscorer acres of space to score.

However, Ferdinand's former teammate Owen Hargreaves, who also played with Ronaldo in the 2008 winning team, agreed with the BT pundit about the build up.

The ex defensive midfielder said that Fred would have been dropped by Sir Alex Ferguson for a month, for his involvement in the goal.

The Brazil midfielder had two opportunities to stop Demarai Gray in the build up and was twice knocked off the ball by the winger, who is easily one of the deals of the year.

Fred battling with Gray for the ball. Image: PA Images
Fred battling with Gray for the ball. Image: PA Images

Speaking about his former colleague storming off the pitch at full time, Ferdinand added, "He stormed down the tunnel, disappointed about the result obviously we’ve all been there.

"I think it’ll be a mixture of things, he’s a man in form, scored five in five, wanted to continue that vein of form and shoot his side to victory, I understand the frustrations and it comes out like that.

"A club like Manchester United with the depth they have in their squad should be able to get the job done.

"You have to remember the players that were missing in this Everton team, neither of their strikers played, probably the weakest they’ve been for a while, you’d expect to go and beat them.

"Nine games without a clean sheet is a poor record for Man United, that’s what undone them today they controlled large parts of this game but give up a lot of chances."

Things don't get any easier for United after the international break, with Leicester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City their next four Premier League fixtures.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Premier League, Manchester United, Everton, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand