Rio Ferdinand hopes there were angry, animated reactions in the dressing room after Manchester United’s defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir, but doubts that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have been leading them.
United turned in a tepid performance in Turkey as they were beaten 2-1 by the Champions League newcomers, conceding a baffling opening goal in the process as Demba Ba was given the freedom of half the pitch just 12 minutes into the match.
The Red Devils fell two goals behind, got back into the game through Anthony Martial before the break but that was as good as it got, finishing the match with just two shots on target.
There was little spark, creativity or fight from the travelling side and Ferdinand was far from impressed with what he saw.
The former United defender says the players need to be seriously shaken up, their commitment questioned and people taking responsibility for their performances.
‘I’m begging that somebody’s in that dressing room dragging people about or asking the question: “Are you for real? Do you know what’s going on here? Where’s your responsibility? Who’s accountable for this?”‘ Ferdinand said on BT Sport.
‘Is someone standing up and saying, “actually it was my fault.” Is there finger-pointing and shouting? I hope it is, I pray to God it is.’
Ferdinand wants to see it from the players, but also from the manager, who is coming under increasing pressure with the team sat 15th in the Premier League.
However, the former England defender cannot necessarily see the Norwegian unleashing the hairdryer treatment, having played with him at Old Trafford.
‘I hope Ole’s doing that, let alone all the players, I hope Ole is in there over people saying, “listen, you are embarrassing youself.”
‘It wasn’t his personality as a player, no chance, that wasn’t what Ole was about. He was very quiet and took care of his own game.
‘He would cut in with comments at times when he needed to.
‘I just hope he’s very animated in that dressing room because them players need a rocket, the way they’re performing at the minute, the inconsistency.
‘I don’t see any intensity at all, there’s no intensity in the way that they play, I don’t see them getting up against people, ruffling feathers on a consistent basis.
‘We might see it for one game, we don’t see it for two, you can’t do that at a top club.
‘If you want to be a top club going for trophies you’ve got to be doing that week-in-week-out and that’s got to be the demands put on everyone every week.’
Manchester United now face a huge trip to Everton on Saturday in the Premier League, with defeat leaving Solskjaer in a perilous position, should it come to pass.
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