Rio Ferdinand took issue with Martin Keown after the Arsenal legend named Diogo Dalot as man of the match in Manchester United 's win over Brentford.
United interim boss Ralf Rangnick gave Dalot the nod at right-back ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the second consecutive Premier League game on Wednesday night.
The Portugal international, 22, was a regular menace on the right flank in the 3-1 victory over the Bees and would have helped the Red Devils keep a clean sheet but for Ivan Toney's late consolation goal.
Keown clearly saw enough from Dalot to crown him man of the match while covering the game as a co-commentator.
However, Ferdinand "couldn't believe" this decision as he claimed Scott McTominay was "head and shoulders above" any other player at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Who was your man of the match in Brentford versus Manchester United? Have your say in the comments!
The Old Trafford hero was so bemused by Keown's verdict he even texted his former England teammate to confront him about it.
"Martin on commentary was the person who gave Dalot man of the match, I couldn't believe it," Ferdinand said on BT Sport.
"McTominay was head and shoulders above everybody. I texted him [Martin] saying, 'what's going on?'"
McTominay, 25, has established himself as a key player under Rangnick and lined up as the No.6 after the German manager veered away from his regular 4-2-2-2 system to deploy a 4-3-3 formation.
The Scotland international has made 23 appearances in all competitions this season and he was equally important under Rangnick's predecessor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Ferdinand praised McTominay's "intensity and desire" and opened up on a recent encounter to explain why he holds him in such high regard.
"I saw him in a restaurant last week and just spoke to him briefly about working hard and playing hard and that's all you hear about him," the 43-year-old added.
"He's an honest kid, he wants to do well and improve.
"You saw in his game today where his intensity and desire, you could see it from the first minute.
"At Manchester United, you need a certain amount of ability but personality and character are what gets you through and enables you to stay at this club for a long time.
"He's shown that in a time of need when this club has been shaky at the best of times."
Ferdinand's lavish praise for McTominay was echoed by Rangnick, who credited the midfielder with turning the tide after a rocky first half during which United were "second best".
"In the first half, we were second best in all aspects of the game," Rangnick said. "In the second half, Scott was exemplary, a real leader, he played with authority when we needed it most
"That had a positively contagious effect on all the players in the centre of the pitch.
"By winning those duels in the second half, we had our counter-attacking moments and we knew we could play with speed and tempo at their goal, make their back three drop back and play in one-versus-one sprinting duels."
