Manchester United

Rio Ferdinand: 'Manchester United not good enough to win Premier League title'

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 13 September 2015

Rio Ferdinand is not impressed by Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal and cannot see the Red Devils being anywhere near good enough to win the Premier League.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has claimed that his former club do not stand a chance of winning the Premier League title this season.

Louis van Gaal's side bounced back from their 2-1 defeat at Swansea City by beating Liverpool 3-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday to move second in the table.

Five points separate the Red Devils from high-flying Manchester City at the summit, but Ferdinand believes that deficit will gradually expand after claiming to be unimpressed by the Dutchman's style.

"They'll finish in the top four. But I don't think they'll go close to winning the league," Ferdinand, who won six Premier League titles in the Sir Alex Ferguson era, told The Telegraph.

"The philosophy is completely different from what it used to be. Their philosophy at the moment seems to be: 'We'll keep the ball more than you, you won't have comfortable possession. Us suffocating you with possession is our first form of defence'.

"Man United supporters now have to go away and re-educate themselves on how to watch Man United. Don't go there expecting to see free-flowing, attacking, gung-ho football. It's methodical, side to side, wait for an opportunity to come. They suffocate other teams. Van Gaal is big enough, strong enough and experienced enough to know that he's not going to please everyone."

New boy Anthony Martial, who cost United £36m on deadline day, came off the bench to add a third late on against the Reds, who had briefly got themselves back in the game through Christian Benteke.

Second-half goals from Daley Blind and Ander Herrera had initially given the hosts a 2-0 lead.