Rio Ferdinand, a Manchester United legend, has criticized interim manager Ralf Rangnick for speaking out in the public about his problems at the club. Rangnick said before Saturday’s harrowing defeat to Brighton that his attempts to recruit a striker were thwarted by the United board in January.
At the time, one of the rumoured targets was Liverpool striker Luis Diaz, who has been a shining light at Anfield since his £40.5 million moves from Porto. Aside from that, Rangnick has made public his disagreement with Jesse Lingard following the player’s brother’s social media post.
Lingard’s brother, Louie Scott, took to social media to lash out at Rangnick and United after the England star was denied a farewell appearance at Old Trafford against Brentford on Monday. Rangnick addressed the exchange during his pre-match news conference for the Brighton game.
Speaking on his FIVE podcast, Ferdinand said: “When I hear the manager speaking, we have never been a club that airs its dirty laundry in public. The guy is talking about details which should be kept within the club; ‘I tried to tell the board to sign this player or that player’. Talk to the board. Don’t talk to the public.
“If you are going to talk about that, if you have left the place and you have severed ties with the club, maybe that’s when you want to talk about it. Fine. I understand that, maybe. You can get a few things off your chest… but you are still there working; ‘I told them to sign these three players, [Luis] Diaz at Liverpool who is now flying’.
“It makes him look a bit better and takes the responsibility off him. I don’t think it is right what he is doing. Yeah you are disappointed, of course, but speak about [those things] and iron it out at the club. When you are gone, then you can say your piece, maybe. Doing it when you are there right now doesn’t help anybody.”
Ferdinand added: “I think they are all wrong in this situation. I don’t think Jesse’s brother comes out looking pretty and I don’t think Ralf or the club do either. All of it stinks for me and I don’t like it. I don’t like our laundry washed in the public eye like this. It’s not something that was ever done before.
“While you are there you have to respect the badge, respect the history of the football club and respect the people that have gone before you. It’s unfortunate for Jesse, too, because it ain’t actually him chatting.
“It’s his brother and Ralf Rangnick, but Jesse is caught in the middle of it. Somebody has to put a stop to this type of thing, because it’s not right. It’s not just Jesse’s brother. There have been other people speaking out of turn.”
