Rio Ferdinand opens up on meeting with ‘gutted’ Sir Alex Ferguson during David Moyes’ Man Utd woes
RIO FERDINAND has opened up on meeting Sir Alex Ferguson during David Moyes’ ill-fated time in charge of Manchester United.
The now West Ham manager, 60, left Everton to become United boss in July 2013 after being hand-picked by Fergie to replace him.
He lifted the Community Shield in his first game in charge but things soon turned sour.
They were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round, Sunderland beat them in the League Cup semi-finals and Bayern Munich eliminated them in the Champions League quarters.
But it was the dismal return of just 17 wins from 34 Premier League matches that ultimately led to United sacking him in April 2014.
Legendary defender Ferdinand, who was part of the title-winning team in Fergie’s final season, was still part of the squad under Moyes.
He has now opened up on going to meet Ferguson during the middle of those torrid times – and he claims that the Glaswegian was desperate for his compatriot to do well and was “gutted” at Moyes’ struggles.
During an appearance on Stick to Football, brought to you by SkyBet, he said: “I went and saw the gaffer [Ferguson] around Christmas time for a coffee, he asked to see me – just asking ‘what’s going on?’
“And I was like – it’s not going [well] – we are not winning games; you know what I mean so you just say what’s on the tin. But the gaffer obviously wanted him to do well, the way he spoke to me was like, he was gutted with the way things were panning out.
“So, I felt sorry for David Moyes, I think anyone who came in there had an impossible job.”
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Ferdinand also revealed how Moyes was advised to keep on one member of Fergie’s staff upon his arrival – but he crucially opted against it.
He added: “I think the gaffer advised David Moyes to maybe keep one of his staff on. Either Rene [Meulensteen] or Mick [Mike] Phelan.
“I called Mick Phelan out a couple of times when I was there – I’ve spoken since about it, and the manager said to me in no uncertain terms to shut up – he said ‘the importance of this man, don’t ever underestimate it, because of what he does for me as a manager.
“‘He allows me to delegate, I let him do a lot of the hard pushing and pulling and I just concentrate on the team.’”
THE MAN UTD RECORD
David Moyes was in charge at Old Trafford for just ten months after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure.
Here is his record in full from his ill-fated stint at Man Utd:
TOTAL MATCHES:
P 51 W 27 D 9 L 15 GF 86 GA 54
PREMIER LEAGUE:
P 34 W 17 D 6 L 11 PTS 57
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:
P 10 W 5 D 3 L 2 GF 17 GA 9
FA CUP:
P 1 L 1 GF 1 GA 2
LEAGUE CUP:
P 5 W 4 L 1 GF 10 GA 3
COMMUNITY SHIELD:
P 1 W 1 GF 2 GA 0
Ferdinand added: “He [Moyes] chose to go his own way and again I respect that – but with hindsight, which is a great thing, he probably would have had a bit more help.
“Getting on the plane, I probably wouldn’t have seen him like that – dishevelled after the tour for two weeks.
“Mick Phelan would have dealt with all the logistics, all of the medical staff and when you get up, when you go to bed, when you are eating your food, et cetera and travel.”
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