‘It’s not realistic’ – Rio Ferdinand calls out Roy Keane and Gary Neville’s takes on Man Utd vs Man City
RIO FERDINAND has called out Roy Keane and Gary Neville for their “unrealistic” expectations of Manchester United.
Keane and Neville both slammed their former club for failing to put on a show in the boring Manchester derby, which ended in a flat 0-0.
The Old Trafford encounter lacked the kind of excitement usually found in one of the league’s biggest matches.
And Neville could not hold back from the gantry as his frustrations burst out while he made it clear that neither side had done enough.
After spotting both teams hugging and chatting at full-time, the former Man Utd right back fumed: “It should have more blood, thunder, risk, and courage involved in playing the game.
“The congratulations and love-in I’m watching says both teams are happy with 0-0.
“It looks like it’s Sunday afternoon and they’re going to go for a roast dinner together now.
“It’s like we’ve got to a point in football where teams are frightened to death to give the ball away, make a mistake, take a risk.
“They’re all so obsessed with shape… nothing off-the-cuff is happening in lots of games.”
Neville was far from alone in lamenting what he had seen, as Sky pundits Keane and Micah Richards also vented their frustrations.
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Keane, 53, said: “There’s a real lack of quality. No atmosphere. City have dominated possession, United have sat in.
“But it’s a derby game, there’s no energy in the stadium. This is a friendly derby!”
But Ferdinand believes both Keane and Neville aren’t judging Man Utd in their current practical state.
Former defender Ferdinand said on his Rio Presents podcast: “The expectations that Roy is talking about is the Man Utd that he played in.
“Where a 0-0 draw against anybody at home is unacceptable. You’re disappointed immediately.
“But this team aren’t there. They got beat by Nottingham Forest last Tuesday. So to think that you’re going to beat Man City.
“Or that you should be expected to beat City on the back of defeat to Forest is wild to me. It’s not realistic.”
Ferdinand, 46, continued on his rant about Neville and Keane: “They’ve both criticised United for being too open before. The manager has adapted a bit and we get a 0-0 draw against City and that’s not right either.
“So you can’t do right, for doing wrong. You’ve got to allow them to adapt and get a result out of it, but you’re still not happy.
“Where will you find happiness then?”
Meanwhile, several fans praised Ferdinand for being “sensible”, with one writing: “Rio is saying it how it is. United are 13th in the league.”
While another said: “Spot on. We’re just not there yet and been battered by City in the past.”
A third said: “United were the better team. Just need a striker.”
One more added: “Bang on. When United are open Roy and Gary complain, when United play compact they complain. Can’t win with these guys.”