Rio Ferdinand makes ‘UNFORGIVEABLE’ claim as Man Utd salvage Everton draw

Robin Bairner

Updated: 22 Feb 2025 14:49 GMT
3 min read

Ruben Amorim, Rio Ferdinand, Man Utd, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand branded the team’s performance against Everton as “unforgivable” as he gave a withering assessment of Ruben Amorim’s side before they staged a comeback to draw 2-2.

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Ferdinand was speaking as United trailed 2-0 at Goodison Park, with former United manager David Moyes having seen goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure provide his side with what appeared a comfortable platform before Bruno Fernandes delivered a reply from a free kick.

The display from the Red Devils was abject to that point, with Ferdinand delivering a damning assessment of the mentality that Man Utd showed.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a Man Utd team this bad. It’s been embarrassing in all different facets of the game. You can talk about quality, you can talk about talent, etc but I think one thing that’s been unforgeable is a lack of fight, a lack of desire, not getting near people,” he said on TNT Sports.

“There are instances in this game, especially in the second half, when Man Utd need to take advantage of this Everton team and take examples from it, the ability to track back, to run in transitions, to fight for balls, every second ball, a blue shirt gets to it first.

“It’s embarrassing to sit here and watch it, I have to say.”

© IMAGO - Patrick Dorgu was a bright spot for Man Utd against Everton

’Totally different United’

Shortly after Ferdinand’s comment, Fernandes’ goal sparked a comeback that saw United level through Manuel Ugarte before a dramatic conclusion to the match.

“Goals change games. Man Utd changed once the substitutions happened,” he said. “The running, the intensity. Garnacho had a huge impact as well, facing people up and wanting people to run in behind. It’s a totally different Man Utd team to the one I called embarrassing. Fantastic response.”

Amorim is likely to escape relatively lightly following the draw due to the controversial nature of United having a penalty decision overturned deep in stoppage time, a decision that even Ferdinand admitted he was “surprised” by.

United went into the weekend 14th in the Premier League and face the prospect of sliding further down the table.

If the short-term picture continues to be a bleak one for the Red Devils, the long-term also promises to be complicated, with the much-needed overhaul of the squad likely to be a tricky affair.

Amorim has already admitted that United will need to sell before they buy in the summer, making the next year one of the most important in the modern history of the Old Trafford side.