Rio Ferdinand picks out FIVE Man United stars who 'aren't showing what they're about' and says Ralf Rangnick hasn't given his team 'a real jolt', as he bemoans the lack of control, shape and confidence
- Rio Ferdinand has blasted Manchester United after their 1-0 defeat by Wolves
- The former centre back picked out five players who are currently out of form
- Ferdinand also admitted his disappointment at the impact Ralf Rangnick has had
Rio Ferdinand has laid into Manchester United interim head coach Ralf Rangnick and his players after their uninspiring defeat by Wolves on Monday evening.
United lost for the first time under Rangnick as Bruno Lage's side deservedly came away with victory at Old Trafford.
It follows on from a series of unconvincing displays, including a 1-0 win at Norwich courtesy of a penalty and a 1-1 draw at Newcastle that was secured with a late equaliser.
![Rio Ferdinand has delivered a damning assessment of Manchester United under Ralf Rangnick](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/04/09/52524481-10367255-Rio_Ferdinand_has_delivered_a_damning_assessment_of_Manchester_U-a-12_1641288875742.jpg)
Rio Ferdinand has delivered a damning assessment of Manchester United under Ralf Rangnick
![Marcus Rashford in action for Man United](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/04/09/52524487-10367255-image-m-20_1641288912193.jpg)
![Edinson Cavani in action for Man United](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/04/09/52524485-10367255-image-a-21_1641288920131.jpg)
Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani were both pinpointed as underperforming for United
Plenty of criticism has been levelled at United in the wake of the defeat, which leaves them four points behind Arsenal in fourth place, with a game in hand.
And Ferdinand has added to that, suggesting that there is still 'so much' for Rangnick to improve on since he took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November.
As well as Rangnick, the former Red Devils captain also targeted a number of first team players for the lack of impact they have had this season.
Among them were England Euro 2020 trio Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Harry Maguire, as well as Edinson Cavani and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
![Ferdinand insists Ralf Rangnick has delivered little improvement to Man United on the pitch](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/04/09/52524483-10367255-image-a-22_1641288975063.jpg)
Ferdinand insists Ralf Rangnick has delivered little improvement to Man United on the pitch
'I think that's a big part of our problem, we don't control enough of the games, and that's down to individuals but also the shape of the team,' he said on the latest FIVE podcast.
'I think there's so much to improve on, there's individuals but also the team shape as at the moment it doesn't seem to be suiting certain players. Certain players aren't showing what they're about.
'We haven't yet seen the Sancho of Dortmund, Rashford looks like a shadow of his former self, Cavani isn't firing really, Wan-Bissaka is shot of confidence, Maguire is lacking confidence at the moment.
![Ferdinand says Jadon Sancho has yet to hit the heights expected of him at Old Trafford](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/04/09/52524489-10367255-image-a-17_1641288893922.jpg)
Ferdinand says Jadon Sancho has yet to hit the heights expected of him at Old Trafford
![Harry Maguire did not play on Monday night but has had a troubled season at the back](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/04/09/52524491-10367255-image-a-18_1641288900258.jpg)
Harry Maguire did not play on Monday night but has had a troubled season at the back
![The former United defender says full back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is currently shot of confidence](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/04/09/52524515-10367255-image-a-19_1641288906046.jpg)
The former United defender says full back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is currently shot of confidence
'I'm waiting for the players individually to be built up and that's one of the big key points. I thought that was going to be a real jolt, and a real jump and a real shift when this new manager came in.
'Yes, he needs time, but again after the first game I haven't seen a real shift in that confidence and those performances from individuals to elevate us as a team, and that's what we need to see.'
Maguire has had to develop the broadest of shoulders this season, with the centre back coming in for regular criticism and often pointed to as the weak link in the United team - although he did not play against Wolves.
Instead, Phil Jones stepped into the breach, making his first appearance for the club in two years.
And Ferdinand did reserve some praise for his former team-mate, as he hailed his performance as 'class', despite the loss.
![Ferdinand did reserve some praise for Phil Jones, heralding his return to action as 'class'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/04/10/52526233-10367255-image-a-23_1641292148663.jpg)
Ferdinand did reserve some praise for Phil Jones, heralding his return to action as 'class'
'For someone to come in from the cold like that, you have to tip your hat to someone like that,' he added.
'I'm just pleased he got through the game unscathed, no injuries. He put in a decent performance after such a long time out, not easy to do. So you've got to tilt your hat to Phil Jones.
'He's come in for a lot of stick, a lot of my words have been misinterpreted a little bit.
'But you've got to say, "well done" in terms of the amount of time he's been off the pitch, to come in and play in the Premier League and play at the standard he did today.
'Albeit, his header was the one that fell to Moutinho's foot before he scored but I thought he was class for long periods in the game.'
Ferdinand was not the only former United star fretting after the performance.
Gary Neville took to Twitter to voice his concerns over their latest showing. He delivered a simple six-word assessment on Twitter during the match: 'It's not good. It really isn't!'
Former United team-mate Paul Scholes needed even fewer words as he wrote: 'F****** joke' in a post on his Instagram story - which has since been deleted.
The pair aren't the only two former players to express concern over the direction of the club under the German technician.
Discussing United's season so far in an interview with Alan Shearer before United's loss to Wolves, Wayne Rooney told The Athletic: 'I've been to a few games, taken my kids. Obviously it's been difficult for them.
'I was at his first game against Crystal Palace and I thought they looked very good. My only concern, with that shape, was that when you come up against better teams — Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal — you could get punished.
'The most important thing is that the players need to buy into it. He needs to get them working as a group rather than as individuals.'
![Ex-United star Wayne Rooney (above) has also had his say on the shape of the United team](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/01/04/10/52523339-10367255-Ex_United_star_Rooney_above_believes_Rangnick_is_under_the_bigge-a-24_1641292907183.jpg)
Ex-United star Wayne Rooney (above) has also had his say on the shape of the United team
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