Rio Ferdinand names player who will challenge Manchester United’s underperforming stars as worst Premier League season in history looms

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has told talkSPORT who deals with underachievers in the Old Trafford dressing room.

United have had a disastrous campaign and could finish in their lowest Premier League position, currently eighth with two games remaining.

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A 1-0 defeat to Arsenal came days after an embarrassing 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Crystal Palace and fans are furious at the lack of effort.

This includes former Red Devils star Ferdinand, who made 455 appearances for the club and won six Premier League titles.

Speaking to Graeme Souness on The White & Jordan Show on talkSPORT, Ferdinand revealed how Bruno Fernandes wouldn’t be afraid to speak his mind in the dressing room.

“I know Bruno (Fernandes) is emphasizing things and attracting young players, et cetera,” the United legend said live on air.

“That you think he does it the right way when he’s on the field and maybe he’s too animated for some people.

“But I look at the last two games Manchester United have played and they haven’t been good enough, he’s a big failure for this team.

“He creates chances and gives a good image to the other players. But he is the one who would attract people and talk to them.”

Fernandes missed United’s last two games, where they lost miserably and looked toothless in attack.

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However, Erik ten Hag can’t just rely on Fernandes to be the voice in the locker room as well as the leader on the pitch and he needs others to consider their own actions.

It’s not a new situation at United, with Ferdinand explaining how Wayne Rooney, who spoke candidly about players faking injuries to avoid playing, was left alone in the dressing room.

Ferdinand added: “I remember when I used to call Wayne Rooney and ask him ‘what’s going on here?’ about a year after his departure.

“He said, ‘Rio, I’m really alone. I’m the only one with a voice. There are probably five or six boys there, I can’t do it all by myself.”

“I think it’s like that now, there’s way too many people saying, ‘you know what, he does it, he does it, I can do it too’.”

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United face Newcastle on Wednesday evening before finishing the season against Brighton at the Amex Stadium, having already lost 14 times in the Premier League this season.

They have also won just once in their last eight Premier League games, dating back to the last two months.

It remains to be seen whether Ten Hag will be able to keep his job at the end of the campaign, but there may have to be a release this summer.

Ferdinand was asked if he wanted Ten Hag to stay or the club to make a change, but he erred in favor of the former.

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“I remained optimistic after that first year and at the start of this season, but I remained deflated,” he continued.

“The only thing I didn’t have in those two years was structure.

“Maybe see a little more (of Ten Hag). Pep Guardiola, (Jurgen) Klopp, Sir Alex Ferguson – what we’ve seen from them is they don’t do it alone.

“They have a CEO or a sports director with them. Pep has it, Klopp has it, Ferguson has it with David Gill.

“The manager needs to be supported to provide him with the support he needs.”