Rio Ferdinand was an imperious presence on the pitch for Manchester United during his playing days, so his voice carries significant weight now he has moved into the world of punditry.
The Englishman spent 12 trophy-laden years at Old Trafford and, since his retirement, continues to share the Red Devils' delight when things are going well - as they are under Erik ten Hag this season - and despair when they are not. United hit a low point in January 2020, when a 2-0 defeat at home by Burnley placed huge pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Ferdinand was working as a pundit for BT Sport during the fixture and launched into a passionate speech on how years of poor recruitment had crippled United's ability to compete at the top of the table, or even qualify for the Champions League.
