Rio Ferdinand has blasted Manchester United players for their lack of concentration after they surrendered a 3-2 lead in the 99th minute to lose against Chelsea.
Erik ten Hag’s side should brilliant powers of recovery to lead at Stamford Bridge in the closing stages, having gone behind to two early goals by the Blues.
But with the finish line in sight, Diogo Dalot conceded a late penalty, which was dispatched by Cole Palmer, before the visitors switched off and allowed the former Manchester City winger to complete his hat-trick from a quickly taken corner.
Ferdinand was astounded by the freedom Palmer was afforded for his winner and slammed the player’s focus.
‘Concentration plays a huge part at the end of these games.’ He said on TNT Sports post-match. There’s a lot riding on these games, huge pressure, I know that. In the madness and chaos, you have to have people who are really on top of their game, concentrating, pointing, yelling. Pushing people about. The corner comes for the winner.
Rio Ferdinand was not happy with what he saw from Manchester United in the closing stages of their 4-3 loss to Chelsea
Cole Palmer was the hat-trick hero on the night for Chelsea and sealed a truly memorable win
United conspired to lose the game after leading in the 99th minute of the Stamford Bridge clash
‘Palmer drifts out, no one even notices him. He’s the danger man, this is the guy you’ve got to shut down more than anyone else on that pitch. He drifts out, unopposed.
‘Yes it’s a deflection, but he shouldn’t even get there if you’re concentrating, if you’re professional in that manner. You can’t afford to have them moments, you get punished at this level.’
Chelsea led through goals from Conor Gallagher and Palmer before United hit back before the break thanks to Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.
The Red Devils were much-improved from their display against Brentford last weekend and took, what many would argue, was a deserved lead Antony’s wonderful cross was nodded home for Garnacho for his second of the evening.
Following Palmer’s 100 and 101-minute strikes, the home side moved into the top half of the Premier League, while United saw their fading Champions League hopes all but extinguish, as they remain nine points behind fifth-place Tottenham.
‘It was like a basketball match, up and down, you attack, we attack.’ Ferdinand continued. ‘That was the worrying thing for both of these teams.
‘When the dust settles, Chelsea and Man United have got to look at themselves. Man United – there’s no team in the top five leagues in Europe who have conceded more shots on goal than Manchester United in 2024.
‘It’s a huge number. That has to be sorted out. If you want any type of success, you have to gain control in the game, manage games and manage moments. Neither of these teams seem capable of doing that. Those traits don’t win titles, simple as that.’
United have an unenviable pick-me-up in their next fixture, as they welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford on Sunday, who will be simultaneously determined to maintain their lead at the top of the table and avenge their FA Cup quarter-final defeat earlier this month.
The former United defender conceded that Ten Hag will have a tough job in getting his players up from the gut-wrenching and stressed their need to show fight – something he insisted was on full display at Stamford Bridge despite the loss.
