“He was an animal” – Rio Ferdinand names Manchester United teammate who ‘was actually a better footballer than people make out’ 

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has claimed that he and Nemanja Vidic are the 2 greatest defenders in Premier League historical past.

The 43-year-old and Virgil van Dijk had been company on the Between the Lines podcast and had been every requested to call their high 5 defenders in Premier League historical past.

Ferdinand positioned himself on the high of the listing. He additionally acknowledged his perception that Vidic doesn’t get as a lot credit score as he deserves for the way good a footballer he was at Manchester United.

“I imagine I used to be primary, severe, I’m placing myself primary immediately that’s how I strategy all the pieces. I’m going to go for Vidic second, companion in crime, I believed he led by instance, didn’t ever say a lot. ‘I used to be a talker, an organiser, he was an animal. He was the one participant I noticed that strikers checked out and thought ‘Woah’, have a look at his nostril, he used a head by folks to win the ball however he was truly a greater footballer than folks make out, he learn the sport very well, we had a very good partnership.”

The 2 males spent 9 seasons collectively at Manchester United and their defensive partnership is commonly thought of among the many best in Premier League historical past.

Their time collectively at Previous Trafford noticed them win 9 main honors, together with 5 Premier League titles. Vidic is one among solely 4 gamers to win the Premier League Participant of the Season award on two events and stays the one defender to win the award.

Manchester United’s protection lacks the solidity and group that Vidic and Ferdinand supplied

Defensive solidity was an indicator of Manchester United previously and a powerful protection usually supplied the bedrock for the successes they loved of their heydey.

Nonetheless, the Crimson Devils have struggled for defensive consistency within the final decade. Regardless of spending a big quantity to strengthen their backline, opposing groups nonetheless breach the Mancunians at will.

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David de Gea is maybe the one member of the backline who lined himself with glory final season. United conceded 57 objectives within the just-concluded season, which marks their worst defensive efficiency in over three a long time.

It is a good distance off the degrees the membership operated at previously and one among Erik ten Hag’s priorities might be to solidify the backline.