‘That says it all’ – Rio Ferdinand digs out Man Utd star despite Fulham win
Rio Ferdinand criticised Rasmus Hojlund’s performance in Manchester United’s much-needed Premier League victory over Fulham.
Neither side reached their top levels at Craven Cottage but United secured a 1-0 win thanks to Lisandro Martinez’s deflected strike in the 78th-minute.
Manchester United have endured a dismal run in the Premier League but won two games this week following a 2-1 victory over Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Few United players impressed in west London but Ferdinand was especially frustrated by the performance of striker Hojlund, who was subbed off on the hour mark after an underwhelming display.
Manchester United spent over £70m to sign Hojlund from Atalanta in 2023 but the Danish striker has only scored two league goals this season.
When told by TNT Sports presenter Lynsey Hipgrave that Hojlund was dispossessed ten times in the first half, United legend Ferdinand said: ‘That says it all.
‘I would be surprised if he wasn’t getting a few fingers pointed at him in the changing room at half-time.
‘Hold the ball up, keep the ball, you’re the platform for us to get up the pitch, far too often he’s too loose on the ball.
‘He doesn’t do things quick enough, the amount of turnovers he’s had today… as I said, I’d be surprised if the players weren’t having a word with him.
‘He needs to use his pace more. He was slack and loose in possession.
‘United can’t get out and get any good possession in the final third when their No. 9 isn’t able to hold the ball up.
‘Most of United’s possession has been with the three centre-backs when there’s no pressure on the ball. Whenever there’s been pressure, United have turned the ball over.’
Amorim said his team were ‘maybe the worst’ in Manchester United’s 147-year history after their humbling 3-1 defeat to Brighton last weekend.
The Portuguese boss was widely criticised for his comments but the team have responded by beating Rangers in the Europa League and Fulham in the Premier League.
‘That feeling of winning and three points is really important for us,’ Amorim told BBC Sport after the Fulham victory.
‘You cannot see a great improvement in the team and that is a fact. But to win helps us to improve.
‘We’ve had some lack of luck in some games. Today, was not the best match but we managed to win.
‘The important thing is I have a clear idea of what I want to do. Sometimes I’m frustrated. We want to play a different style and we are going to play different style in the future.’
The win sees Manchester United move up to 12th in the Premier League, while Fulham stay 10th.
‘Frustration really with the result,’ Fulham boss Marco Silva said. ‘Overall, in the game we deserved more and should have taken more from the game.
‘One shot on target from Man Utd – a lucky deflection. We were the team that dominated more. We had two or three good moments to score, but I don’t remember one dangerous moment from them.
‘In the first half we were the better team, but in the second half it was more balanced. The game was a bit more balanced, and I wanted us to get on the front foot – a really lucky goal from them.
‘The level we are playing at we have to be clinical – if we don’t, it is going to be difficult to win.
‘It was not a good night for our attacking players. Let’s hope in the next game it will be better.’
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