Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand does not agree with Jim Ratcliffe’s comparison of Ruben Amorim to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in one of his latest interviews, Softfootball reports.
Interestingly, Arsenal defeated Manchester United 1-0 on the opening day of the season and there is a huge gap between both sides as the Red Devils struggle in mid table while the Gunners are currently top of the premier league table.
The former England international was on his official podcast, Rio Ferdinand Presents, when his co-host asked him if he agreed with what the Manchester United co-owner said. He replied:
You know what, I just like to hear the people that are in the driving seat of a football club come out and speak.
I think he obviously went on to a podcast to speak about something totally different, but obviously, that podcast isn’t going to allow him to come on and not ask him about Man United.
So, it’s just refreshing that somebody in his position actually talks. Before questioning Ratcliffe’s comments about Arteta. Now, do I agree exactly with what he said?
I understand the sentiment – if you go through the facts, I don’t think it’s the right person to draw a comparison with. You look at Arteta – there are similarities in some of the stats.
The big one is that he improved the team from 10th to finish eighth in his first year. Amorim took his team from 14th to finish 15th. There was also flexibility in the way Arteta had his team.
I think he had about seven different formations in his first 50 matches, just trying things out. The improvement line would have been a bit more consistent, and you go, I can see it happening.
Whereas with Amorim, you look at him and there isn’t as much consistency or positives that are coming out of it that you’re going, oh, I can actually see it clearly, it’s hitting me between my eyes, I couldn’t let this guy go.
I think right now, we’re at a stage with United and Amorim, [where] I just want to see that consistency of some results coming through, performance alongside that, and an idea that you go, ‘oh, I can see this training ground stuff really paying off’.
The consistency with all of those three different elements isn’t there right now, and I’m hoping he can get that right.
Here is the full video of the podcast. Watch below:
In Ruben Amorim’s first season with Manchester United he finished, they finished 15th in the premier league and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur while Arsenal finished second in the premier league and got eliminated in the semi final stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Before the international break, Manchester United defeated Sunderland 2-0 at Old Trafford while Arsenal won over West Ham United in the London derby. The Red Devils would hope for good fortune when the premier league resume while a game against Liverpool while Arsenal travel to Fulham.
