Rio Ferdinand has revealed that one “quiet” Manchester United legend could be a “loon sometimes” after dropping his verdict on the situation involving Marcus Rashford.
Marcus Rashford missed Manchester United’s 4-2 FA Cup victory over Newport County on Sunday after he didn’t make training last week due to illness.
However, it emerged last week in reports that the 26-year-old United forward visited Belfast nightclubs on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of his missed training session.
Erik ten Hag was quizzed on Rashford’s absence from the fourth-round FA Cup tie and refused to publicly comment on the situation involving the England international.
“He reported ill. The rest is an internal matter and I will deal with that,” he said at the time.
Rashford’s absence from United’s FA Cup win has sparked reactions from the likes of Premier League legend Alan Shearer and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson.
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Ferdinand talks one Man United legend
Speaking on his VIBE with FIVE show, Rio Ferdinand offered his thoughts on the drama around Marcus Rashford and what it means for manager Erik ten Hag.
The United legend admitted that the players he played alongside at Old Trafford were not all “saints” and singled out one of his ex-teammates as an example.
Ferdinand said that people’s perception of Paul Scholes is that he is a “quiet man,” but the former Manchester United midfielder was a “loon” on a night out.
However, the 45-year-old TNT Sports pundit believes that Rashford is the type of United player who should be “leading that team.”
Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: “I think Erik ten Hag has to be strong, solid and consistent Where does he go now? Who does he lean on?
“If he does it with [Jadon] Sancho, he has a Rashford or [Alejandro] Garnacho sitting there. If he does that with Marcus now, he would go for a lot of money in the market.
“Marcus should be the guy that is leading that team. None of us were saints.
“Scholesy, everyone thinks is the most quiet man, but on a night out he was a loon sometimes. He would be out and about, one of the last to go home, but you are trying to do it at the right time.
“We did like a good time. It would all go back to the manager.
“You have to have the awareness, it’s not the manager that knows everything, the bloody world knows, you have to be more diligent and careful. If he does that with Marcus now, he would go for a lot of money in the market.
“I hate talking about all these things outside of the 90 minutes. But it’s consistently popping up. It’s been happening [for] years.
“There are so many different scenarios that we are talking about, outside of the game and it is down to the club, the players and the manager to create a culture where people stay in check.”
Ferdinand on Rashford situation
United on Monday released a statement and the Premier League club said that Rashford had “taken responsibility for his actions.”
However, Ferdinand was baffled by the situation at United and admitted that he is unsure if Ten Hag can trust his players.
Speaking on the Rashford situation, he said: “Who else is dealing with that typo of stupidness?
“Who else is dealing with these behavioural problems, these sagas, these big personalities who are doing what they feel is right at the time?
“We’re dealing with someone dealing with a lot of issues in the glare of the public, we’re the biggest club in the world.
“It’s unprecedented. He isn’t letting people get away with it, which I like.
“There’s a point where it’s trust. Can this manager trust the players won’t be front-, middle-, back-page headlines? He can’t. He can’t trust them at the moment to allow him to focus on football.”
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