Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Manchester United, Europa League, Rio Ferdinand, Ruben Amorim, Alejandro Garnacho, Football, Tottenham Hotspur
Luke Davies
Topics: Manchester United, Europa League, Rio Ferdinand, Ruben Amorim, Alejandro Garnacho, Football, Tottenham Hotspur
Former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand believes Ruben Amorim made a huge mistake which cost the Red Devils the Europa League final on Wednesday (May 21).
Ferdinand, 46, was part of TNT Sports’ live match coverage at San Mames in Bilbao on Wednesday evening and could not hide the disappointment which was etched on his face after Man United’s 1-0 defeat in the Europa League final.
Brennan Johnson’s fortunate first-half goal was enough to secure Spurs’ first trophy since 2008, and Ferdinand pointed the blame at one United star.
“[Patrick] Dorgu, at no point in this, does he speak to Luke Shaw - I think you always need that help,” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports.
Advert
"Maybe it's an experience thing. He doesn't let him know. By the time he sees the white shirt flash across him, it's too late, and the ball ends up in the back of the net.
"I always say the defender the furthest away is your talker and your eyes, and ears. He has to signal the other players.
"He has to shout, scream, push, whatever, and let them know players are running across them, and he didn't do that, and they got punished."
Advert
And his critique of his former club did not stop there, as he pinpointed a decision that Amorim made ahead of the match as a mistake.
Ferdinand was not pleased with Alejandro Garnacho’s omission from the starting XI.
“That’s one question mark I had with the selection today for Man United,” Ferdinand explained.
“We didn’t have anybody running in behind, and Garnacho has done that all season when he has played.
Advert
“Whether you like him or not in terms of his finishing and end product, he does give you that threat which stretches teams and at no point in this game were Spurs stretched in that sense.”
Garnacho, 20, replaced Mason Mount on 71 minutes but failed to make a positive impact on proceedings and was clearly not pleased with his cameo.
“Obviously, it’s hard for everyone,” Garnacho said following the match.
Advert
“Our season was s**t. We didn’t beat anyone in the league. We lacked a lot of things. When you don’t score goals, you always need more.
“Until we reached the final, I played every round. And I played 20 minutes today - I don’t know. I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens next.”