Rio Ferdinand has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United's transfer policy under Louis van Gaal, claiming the club has lost its identity and is no closer to winning silverware. The former United defender, who spent 12 trophy-laden years at Old Trafford, believes the Red Devils will struggle to challenge for titles this season despite spending £113m in the summer.
Ferdinand told reporters: 'If I was a betting man I wouldn’t put money on United winning the Premier League and certainly not the Champions League. Right now, I don’t see a huge improvement from last season. They are very far behind Manchester City and they were a huge amount of points behind Chelsea last year.'
The 36-year-old compared Van Gaal's style unfavourably with that of Sir Alex Ferguson, saying: 'What is different between the philosophy of Manchester United under Van Gaal and Manchester United under Ferguson? Everything. You associate Man United with pace and power, explosive fantasy in the final third, but that’s not the way it is now.'
He added: 'It’s methodical and really slow going side to side whereas before it was “bang, go”. It’s getting the ball through the team not very quickly, keeping the ball from side to side and waiting for an opening.'
Ferdinand also questioned the club's transfer strategy, particularly the use of Daley Blind at centre-half. 'If you’re looking at Manchester United, all their targets and the money they spent it does baffle you to see Daley Blind playing centre-half. This weekend, Christian Benteke should be able to pick him up and run around with him on his shoulders.'
