Rio Ferdinand on Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim's 'worst team' comment - 'I hope he threw a TV off the wall'
Published 23/01/2025 at 20:11 GMT
Ruben Amorim described his Manchester United side as maybe the worst in the club's history in a sensational admission following The Red Devils' loss against Brighton last weekend. He may have climbed down, but Rio Ferdinand believes he went too far. Just as things appeared to be moving on, Amorim has now gone after his own record as United manager, admitting that it is not good enough.
'I hope he threw a TV off the wall' - Ferdinand on Amorim's 'worst team' comment
Video credit: TNT Sports
TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand believes Ruben Amorim's remarkable outburst about the quality of his Manchester United side may have been detrimental to the dressing room.
Amorim described The Red Devils as "the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United" after their 3-1 defeat against Brighton last week, but admitted he regretted the remark in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports on Thursday.
Ferdinand believes Amorim recognises that he went too far ahead of their UEFA Europa League clash with Rangers – live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Transfers
Mancini in shock link with Man Utd, Potter set for new job - Paper Round
18/10/2025 at 08:13
"Maybe with his comments, post the first comments, he maybe realised that he turned the temperature up too high," said Ferdinand.
"I think that a comment like that can be detrimental in the dressing room, if it wasn’t said to the players before he’s gone on to the press conference.
"If he had told them that and said, ‘listen guys, I’m going to give them a headline and this is what it’s going to be’, and the lads were all prepared for that then I think it would have been fine, totally fine, but it seemed like it was one of those things, off the cuff, and it maybe came across in the wrong way.
- Exclusive: Arteta calls for higher standards at Arsenal - 'Focus on what we can do better'
- Exclusive: Guardiola says he 'loves and admires' players who stepped up during City's slump
"Maybe the language, the barrier might have been an issue.
"I look at it and if I was in the dressing room I wouldn’t have been too pleased about that.
"I hope he threw a TV off the wall, on to another wall, into the shower room and headbutted the wall as well. [It would have got] a very good [reaction]."
Just as things appeared to be calming down at Old Trafford, Amorim admitted that his record as United manager has not been good enough during a remarkable outburst in the programme notes for his side's match against Rangers.
The Red Devils have lost six Premier League fixtures since the Portuguese coach took over from Erik ten Hag in November, winning three and drawing two.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/01/23/4088759-82912828-2560-1440.jpg)
'Maybe I need to calm down' - Amorim regrets damning 'worst team' assessment
Video credit: TNT Sports
He has now called on his side to remember who they are representing when The Red Devils face Rangers in a mouth-watering all-British Europa League clash.
"What we have seen so far since I arrived at Manchester United has not been good enough.
"We all have to be honest with one another.
"Ever since I arrived, I have warned that we would have to suffer together, and that is exactly where we are.
"However, that does not make it acceptable to be losing so many games.
"We all must remember that we are representing Manchester United in every game and that there are standards we have to meet.
"So, as we welcome Philippe Clement and Rangers to Old Trafford this evening, it is quite obvious what we have to do.
"Yes, there will be some tactical elements to how we approach the game, but those are small details in our approach; most important of all is that we recognise our situation, acknowledge the importance of this game in our UEFA Europa League campaign, and ensure that we all fight together from the first whistle to the last second of the game."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/01/22/4088439-82906433-2560-1440.jpg)
'I was talking about me' - Amorim clarifies 'worst Man Utd team' comments
Video credit: SNTV
United are just outside the top eight ahead of the so-called 'Battle of Britain', but they will be desperate to qualify automatically for the last 16.
Rangers are also still in with a shout of automatic qualification, and Amorim believes the Scottish giants will want to exploit United's poor form.
"I can say without doubt that Rangers will come here looking to exploit our situation," Amorim added in his programme notes.
"They are in almost the same position as us in the group-stage table, so they will come with a big away support, looking forward to a battle for the points.
"It is everybody's job to be ready for that fight."
TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League across the 2024-25 season. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
Related Topics
Thoughts?