Manchester United 'panic' when they concede – Rio Ferdinand on humiliating Tottenham defeat

Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand says he was "not really" surprised by the team's performance in their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Erik ten Hag's side were outclassed from start to finish at Old Trafford where they suffered their third defeat in their opening six Premier League matches. Ferdinand said: "They seem to panic, the confidence is low".

‘I don’t have that concern’ – Ten Hag confident job is safe despite harrowing Spurs loss

Video credit: SNTV

Rio Ferdinand has questioned Manchester United’s response to adversity following their 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, suggesting they "panic" when they concede a goal.

Erik ten Hag's side produced an insipid performance at Old Trafford with Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke grabbing the goals for Spurs, while Bruno Fernandes was sent off for the hosts on the stroke of half-time.

The defeat was United's third in their opening six Premier League matches this season and has piled the pressure on Ten Hag, who said his players were "not good enough" following the defeat.

Premier League

How to watch Forest v Arsenal on TNT Sports and discovery+

10/09/2025 at 16:42

Ten Hag faces a daunting fixture list before the October international break, as United travel to Porto in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, before a Premier League trip to high-flying Aston Villa on Sunday.

Speaking to TNT Sports, former United captain Ferdinand said he is concerned about the team's recent slump.

"Two or three games before this one, I was saying I could see a little bit of improvement in areas with and without the ball," Ferdinand said. "But unfortunately, in the last couple of games, we've fallen back into what we saw last season.

'We can't give away a goal like this' - Ten Hag says Man Utd were 'punished' for mistake

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It’s a bit unpredictable in what United are doing defensively especially, and no real big picture in the way that they’re playing. You can’t look at it and go ‘that’s Man United’s style of play’ at the moment.

"I don’t think the red card had any bearing. I think we were poor before that. First half especially with and without the ball, very poor."

After an encouraging display in their goalless draw at Crystal Palace, United appeared to fall back into old habits with a disappointing draw against FC Twente in their Europa League opener.

Twente's equalising goal was similar to Tottenham's opening goal on Sunday and Ferdinand believes that the squad struggle to stand up to adversity during matches.

"Obviously [Micky] Van de Ven ran through the whole team and that happened against FC Twente in midweek. And you think wow, if it happened once, you don’t see that twice in a season, let alone two in two games. Disappointing from that front," he said.

"First goal goes in and then the red card, and you think 'wow, could United come back even at 1-0 down before that sending off?', and it didn’t look like it for me.

"I think at the moment when Man United lose a goal, they seem to panic, the confidence is low. Am I surprised? Not really, obviously disappointed, but expected better, expected more, and I thought it wasn’t a performance where you’d go, ‘that’s the standard.’"