Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand reignited his rivalry with Douglas Luiz after the Aston Villa star took a swipe at him on social media.
Aston Villa secured the final Premier League top-four spot and have qualified for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
Tottenham’s 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday ensured that Ange Postecoglou’s men could no longer leapfrog Villa in the league table.
Villa kept their Champions League hopes alive on Monday after Unai Emery’s men produced a sensational 3-3 comeback draw against Liverpool at Villa Park.
Manchester United had been battling Unai Emery’s Villa side for a top-four spot only a couple of months ago before the Red Devils’ form took a big hit.
Erik ten Hag’s men languish in eighth place in the league table with only two league matches remaining and face an uphill battle to secure any kind of European football.
Ferdinand and Luiz trade swipes on X
Rio Ferdinand had previously mocked Douglas Luiz after Manchester United defeated Aston Villa 2-1 away from home in February.
Rasmus Hojlund had opened the scoring at Villa Park in the first half before Luiz scored an equaliser for Unai Emery’s men in the second half.
Scott McTominay then scored late in the second half to seal all three points in the 2-1 win against Villa, with Ferdinand mocking Luiz’s celebration at the time.
Luiz wasted no time in reigniting his rivalry with United legend Ferdinand after Villa punched their ticket to the Champions League for next season.
The 26-year-old Brazil international took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to call out Ferdinand.
“I just came here to find out if @rioferdy5 is okay?” Luiz wrote.
Ferdinand congratulated Luiz on Villa’s accomplishment of reaching the Champions League, all the while posting a photo of him lifting the trophy with United.
“Congrats @dgoficial … Champions League football thoroughly deserved next season,” he wrote in response.
Ten Hag rues Champions League miss for Man Utd
Erik ten Hag admitted it could be “very damaging” if United miss out on European football altogether after failing to secure their return to the Champions League.
Speaking after the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, he said (via The Athletic): “It is very damaging.
“That is the situation we are in but still we can get there, so we have the opportunities to we have to take them and fight, even when the problems are massive, everyone knows this, especially positions and lines.
“We have to deserve it, especially the fans, they followed us on Monday [at Crystal Palace] and they understand the position we are in.
“Today, they are behind us from the first whistle, they see the team needs backing and support so we are united, that is very good.”
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