Rio Ferdinand made a trip to Manchester United’s Carrington training ground to conduct an interview with manager Erik ten Hag ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool. During the interview with TNT Sports, Ten Hag praised the best trainers at the club and expressed his satisfaction with having former players involved, despite some reservations from the current squad.
When speaking to Rio Ferdinand, Ten Hag mentioned Lisandro Martinez as one of the top trainers at Manchester United. Ferdinand, who joined Manchester United in 2002 and achieved numerous trophies with the club before leaving in 2014, now works as a pundit and has offered criticism of his former team. He arrived at the Carrington training ground to interview Ten Hag, the current manager.
While Ten Hag’s team has not been able to replicate the previous season’s success, which saw them secure a top-four spot in the League Cup, they remain in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. However, they currently sit eight points behind Aston Villa, who are fourth in the Premier League.
During the interview, Ferdinand asked Ten Hag about the player in the current squad who sets the tone and maintains high standards in training, referencing the role Paul Scholes played during Ferdinand’s time at Old Trafford. Ten Hag named Raphael Varane, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, and Lisandro Martinez as players who exhibit similar qualities, particularly highlighting Martinez’s competitiveness and desire to win even in small games.
Ferdinand also inquired about Ten Hag’s stance on former players returning to the club, to which Ten Hag expressed his support for it, considering them part of the United family and acknowledging their ability to contribute with their knowledge of the club’s history and DNA. However, he noted that the current players have mixed feelings about receiving criticism from former players, although he understood that the intention behind it was for the betterment of the club.
In the same interview, Ten Hag praised Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo’s progress in the current season but acknowledged that they face a significant challenge in establishing themselves on the first team.