Rio Ferdinand has hit back at Manchester United star Antony following his criticism of the club’s former players (Picture: Vibe with Five)
Rio Ferdinand has defended himself and a string of fellow Manchester United legends following stinging criticism from the club’s current Brazil international winger Antony.
The 23-year-old has endured a turbulent start to his United career following his £82million transfer from Ajax 18 months ago.
After a promising start, the mercurial winger’s confidence quickly evaporated and he has found himself in and out of Erik ten Hag’s starting XI this season.
Antony hit out at the likes of Ferdinand and Paul Scholes who have criticised his performances this season, but while the former England centre-half sympathises with the United star’s off-field issues he insists he is justified in calling out his lack of impact on the pitch.
He told Vibe with FIVE: ‘Listen, Giggsy was getting booed at times. Ryan Giggs! So I see people like Antony chatting in the paper about where’s the support and players not having the type of pressures I’ve had.
‘I haven’t seen him get booed at Old Trafford yet. Ryan Giggs was getting booed week in and week out for a sustained amount of time. Let that sink in! And these man are talking about pressure.
‘It’s different times and different pressures but it’s similar across the board and it’s about how you deal with pressure.
‘I wasn’t looking for no support from people, I had pressure when I came back from my drugs ban and I had to play you think I weren’t under pressure to perform? You think I didn’t have all eyes on me every minute of the day? In training, in the matches, off the pitch do you think there weren’t paparazzi following me everywhere?
‘I wasn’t moaning this is part of it, this Manchester United, this is what this emblem brings. It brings an extra level of pressure that a lot of other clubs bar the Real Madirds of this world don’t really feel.
‘When you walk into the door at that club there’s going to be every type of pressure you can feel, or you didn’t even dream you could feel.