'A lot of question marks' - Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United 'lack balance' after capitulation against Galatasaray

Rio Ferdinand was concerned by Manchester United's “lack of balance” after they twice threw away a two-goal lead in a 3-3 UEFA Champions League draw with Galatasaray.

Erik ten Hag’s side led 2-0 and 3-1 in Istanbul but were pegged back and left with just a point after a hugely entertaining end-to-end encounter.

The result means the Red Devils will have to beat Bayern Munich in their final group game to stand any chance of reaching the last 16.

But Ferdinand believes they have big issues to address if they are to stop conceding goals in Europe, where United have scored 12 and conceded 14 while picking up four points in five games.

“You can’t go into a Champions League campaign and score nine goals in three away games and have one point at the end of it,” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports.

“I think that shows there is a real lack of balance in the team. Yes, they can get goals and they are attacking at will and creating chances, but defensively they make mistakes.

“The goalkeeper today has to hold his hands up and say he was at fault for a couple of goals, and he should do better.

“But the manager will be scratching his head, thinking that the game plan first half worked perfectly, and all of a sudden they score a goal and it changes the dynamic of the game, from 2-0 up to 2-1.

“He will be thinking he set the team up perfectly well and they executed, but a mistake cost us. And at 3-1 up the same again.

“There are a lot of question marks in the performances. But balance is one of the key aspects they have to find.

“Scars from throwing away leads are hard to get away, you’ve got to manage games correctly.

“They have got to do that not over one or two or three games, but over a period of games now so they can erase those scars that have grown through bad results and throwing away leads, especially in Europe.”

Ferdinand was a Champions League winner during a 12-year spell at Old Trafford in his playing career.

Asked what he would be looking for from the current United team as a defender, the former England international replied: “I would want composure, to be more calculated in your runs and your positions.

“Be a little bit more conservative at times, maybe. Get your foot on the ball. Ride the game out, take fouls, make fouls. That comes with communication.

“I was one for always shouting if the ball wasn’t being held up. You want the ball to get into the final third for your team, then maintain possession. Sometimes we get into that area of the pitch and it’s about getting a shot off straight away.

“But sometimes, get the team back in their half, there’s a long way back to your goal then, and take the basketball nature out of the game. That didn’t happen today and that comes with experience.”

Manchester United travel to Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, December 2.

Their final Champions League group game is against Bayern at Old Trafford on Tuesday, December 12, live on TNT Sports.

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