Premier League

Rio Ferdinand slams Man Utd’s reliance on ‘individual brilliance’ and begs club to start winning games as a team

Published

27th January 2022

RIO FERDINAND believes it doesn’t matter who Manchester United sign until they stop relying on ‘individual brilliance’ to win games.

The former Red Devils hero was quizzed about whether West Ham’s £100million-rated star Declan Rice would be a great signing for Ralf Rangnick’s side.

Rio Ferdinand has had his say on Man United

The Red Devils can’t keep relying on individual brilliance from the likes of Bruno Fernandes

And Ferdinand, 43, revealed that he thinks putting a clear style and identity into practice at Old Trafford is more important than big-money signings.

He said on his Vibe with Five podcast: “I don’t think it matters what individuals Man United bring in.

“It’s been proven over a long period of time now that you can bring in your superstars and think this is a saving grace etc.

“It’s about the way the team is built, and the way the tactics are implemented.

“I think you need a style of football, you need tactics put in place, and an identity put in place, which we’ve been calling for for ages, that the players can all identify with, and then you go forward with it.

“Bruno’s done it for the last couple of years, when Bruno shows up and produces a moment it’s ‘oh we’ve won the game’.

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“That’s not down to tactics, it wasn’t down to structure, it wasn’t down to an identity or philosophy, it was down to individual brilliance.

“The best teams on the planet don’t win things through individuals. They win it because the team plays the best, but they might have an individual within that able to produce the magic here or there.

“Until that system is put in place, I don’t care who we sign.”

Rangnick has been tasked with guiding Man United until the end of the season.

But the German will move into a consultancy role ahead of next term.

The Red Devils have been strongly linked with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag ahead of their managerial switch next season.

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