RIO FERDINAND has revealed the moment he will start panicking about Manchester United.
But he downplayed Sunday’s humiliation at Anfield by insisting he is not worried yet.
GettyRio Ferdinand is not panicking about Manchester United despite the 7-0 defeat to Liverpool[/caption]
The former Red Devils defender, 44, described the 7-0 thrashing as a “complete massacre”.
However, he is reserving judgement until after the next two matches against Real Betis and Southampton to see how Erik ten Hag’s squad respond.
Ferdinand told his Vibe with Five podcast: “To sit here and start picking players out for one performance, we have been sitting here for many months now saying this team are on the upward curve in contrast to what it has been.
“They have had one performance and we are going to put them on the floor, I don’t think it is right.
“When we played, if you lost, you are thinking about Wednesday or Tuesday, ‘We do not lose that game’ – that was the chat.
“I am only going to start panicking if we get beaten on Thursday [against Real Betis] or Southampton at the weekend.
“That will tell me where this team is mentally.”
United’s players were slammed by pundits for capitulating in the second half against Liverpool in the record-breaking defeat.
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Ten Hag tore into his flops in the Anfield dressing room with the hairdryer treatment and forced them to sit in silence and listen to their rivals’ celebrations next door.
And the Dutchman warned they would all be axed if there was a repeat of a performance which he publicly slammed as “unprofessional” and “unacceptable”.
The players were dragged into training on Monday morning and had to sit through clips of the horrorshow in an attempt to stir up anger.
Luke Shaw issued an apology while Bruno Fernandes looks set to be stripped of the armband for his pathetic behaviour at Anfield that “irritated” team-mates.
Ferdinand added: “You got to remember that when you go to Anfield [the fans can] suck the ball into the net. Not that they needed to today.
“The atmosphere is one of the best in the world, especially when it’s a team like Man Utd coming to town.
“We’ve been pulverised. That was a massacre, an absolute massacre at Anfield. That’s all you can call it.
“I think if there are any grounds in the world that can humble you then it’s Anfield. Complete reality check of where we’re at.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do and this could be a blessing in disguise.
“And that’s the only way you can look at this because otherwise it’s a depressing state you fall into. Which I’m nearing now…”
GettyUnited walked off the Anfield pitch shellshocked by the second half[/caption] Read More