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"It's not about the manager" - angry Rio hits out at United players

Rio Ferdinand has become the latest ex-Manchester United captain to take aim at the current crop ...



Rio Ferdinand has become the latest ex-Manchester United captain to take aim at the current crop of under-performing players at Old Trafford.

United players were accused of throwing in the towel, and giving up by Roy Keane following Sunday's humiliating 4-1 defeat to neighbours, Manchester City.

There have been some - justifiable - fingers pointed at interim manager Ralf Rangnick, but speaking on his Vibe With Five podcast, Ferdinand laid the blame for United's slump squarely at the players.

He offered the analogy, "I feel from the outside looking in, they all just want to be mates. No one wants to put someone's nose out of joint.

"It's like they're all in an office job in the city. They're all being nice, and they don't really like each other but they won't tell each other.

"To win, you've got to be pulling people about telling them you're rubbish, sort yourself out. You don't have to be that aggressive either... it can be a simple conversation.

"Please tell me they are [doing that]. I don't see a response. Their body language is awful, walking about slumped, like the world's against them, looking unhappy.

"You're playing for Man United man, in a derby, do you know how much those fans in that stadium would give to be on that pitch.

"And you're walking around like, 'I could be doing better things than this on a Sunday' - that's the vibe I'm getting from certain guys."

Regarding Keane's criticism of Fred, Ferdinand said, "Fred's an easy cop out, the system didn't suit him at all. We've seen too many managers come and go, it's not about the manager.

"If you're not here to play football, take criticism and improve yourselves every day. If you're not willing to work hard every day, come out of the club."

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Cristiano Ronaldo Harry Maguire Manchester City Manchester United Ralf Rangnick Rio Ferdinand