RIO FERDINAND insisted he ‘feels sorry’ for Nuno Espirito Santo after the former Tottenham manager was sacked on Monday.
And the Manchester United legend, 42, added the job was doomed from the start because of the ‘terrible situation’ he walked into with Harry Kane’s transfer saga.
Santo lasted just four months and 17 games before getting the boot less than 48 hours after defeat at home to the Red Devils.
But Ferdinand has plenty of sympathy for the Portuguese manager.
He told his Five YouTube channel: “I actually feel sorry for Nuno. He was on to a hiding before he even come through the doors.
“Imagine signing for a massive club in terms of the new stadium and where they’re looking to head, the stadium the infrastructure, the training ground – that is perfect now so let’s get it right on the pitch.”
However, things were never quite right on the pitch or around the training ground as Nuno struggled to win over his players or the fans.
They started the season with three 1-0 wins but lost five of their next seven in the Premier League, including four London derbies.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
One of the biggest issues was scoring goals.
Spurs mustered up a paltry nine in their opening ten league games – only bottom-side Norwich have fewer.
And star man Kane was responsible for just one of those as he struggled to find form following his summer of speculation.
The striker, 28, wanted to leave Spurs and join Manchester City – but any move was blocked by Daniel Levy.
And Ferdinand reckons that only added to the difficulties as Santo stepped into the poisoned chalice.
He added: “The day Nuno walks in there’s his No9, his talisman, his top scorer, his best player, his captain doesn’t want to be there.
“And everyone at the football club and everyone in the fan base knows it.
“Imagine how difficult that is to have to go and deal with that.
“It’s difficult enough to go in as a new manager – and I’m not trying to talk bad about Harry Kane, that’s his own prerogative to do that – but for Nuno specifically, it was a terrible situation.
“I don’t think there are many managers who could have salvaged or got a tune out of Harry when he’s been left so despondent after the summer he had.”
Read our Football news live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals
Antonio Conte, though, will be hopeful he can turn things around for Kane and Tottenham.
The 52-year-old Italian signed a mammoth £15million-a-year contract until 2023 on Tuesday.
And as well as being handed a £150m war chest to bring in new players, SunSport revealed Kane is now ready to abandon plans to quit the club because he believes Conte can get them challenging for silverware.
