Rio Ferdinand has dropped his biggest concern for Ruben Amorim and the complexion of the Manchester United manager’s squad at Old Trafford.
The new Premier League season is around the corner for Manchester United and the Red Devils are in the final stages of their pre-season tour under Ruben Amorim.
Amorim’s men were in action in the United States on the weekend and United and Everton played out a 2-2 draw at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
United’s result against Everton was the Red Devils’ final match of the pre-season campaign in the United States ahead of their return to Old Trafford this summer.
Amorim’s side came out on top in their Premier League Summer Series competition after United picked up two victories and a draw during their tour of the US.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty ImagesRio Ferdinand identifies Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire amid his worry for Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim
Manchester United’s final match of the pre-season campaign will be played on Saturday afternoon, with the Red Devils in action against Serie A outfit Fiorentina.
The Red Devils’ 2025-26 Premier League campaign under United manager Ruben Amorim will begin with a tough test against rivals Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Rio Ferdinand admitted that Amorim was hit with a major obstacle in United’s lacklustre 2024-25 campaign due to the shape of his team.
The United legend said that Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire have “no athleticism” between them, while Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are still inexperienced.
“The team shape wasn’t working last year, and then that leaves players individually open to get exposed, for instance, transitions,” he explained.
“Man United were getting hit on transitions all the time last season. They haven’t actually got the profile of [a] player to deal with that.
“There’s no athleticism, centre of midfield, there’s no athleticism in the centre [of defence], [Matthijs] De Ligt and Harry Maguire.
“[Leny] Yoro, yes, is athletic, but again, 19, adjusting, [Ayden] Heaven, adjusting, young kid as well inexperienced, so, you need to have the team functioning to help those individuals.”
Rio Ferdinand explains the ‘most important thing’ that Ruben Amorim must nail with Man Utd next season
Ferdinand made his feelings clear that the Red Devils looked better in pre-season, but it is “vitally important” that United players must finally ‘click’ together as a team.
“I think you can pick holes in individuals, but I think the most important thing is how the team function[s],” he said.
The 46-year-old former United and England defender added: “The team weren’t fit enough to play an Amorim style of football last year, I think they’re hitting that in pre-season to get them fitter.
“You can see signs of that already, but they’ve got to understand what he wants as individuals, but as a collective, it’s vitally important.
“Whatever you can do individually, yes, we can pick at that, but the squad wasn’t working.”
United and Fiorentina’s pre-season friendly clash at Old Trafford on Saturday is slated for a UK kick-off time of 12:45pm.