Rio Ferdinand claims winning the Europa League would only “paper over the cracks” at Man United | OneFootball

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has claimed that a Europa League win for his old team would not hide their glaring deficiencies.

The Red Devils face Athletic Club tonight in Bilbao in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final.

United are unbeaten in the Europa League this season but have been defeated a scarcely believable 15 times in the league, as they wallow in 14th place.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Ferdinand has claimed that while winning the Europa League would be a big achievement it would only superficially hide the club’s issues.

“It would be a huge success, given the disappointments there have been in the Premier League this year. To end the season with a trophy and then qualification for the Champions League, I don’t think they could’ve dreamed of that. It’d paper over some of the cracks.”

When asked why United’s form has been so different in Europe versus the Premier League, he echoed Ruben Amorim and Manuel Ugarte’s theory that it is due to the physicality differences.

“Physically, the teams they’ve played against [in the Europa League] they’ve been able to overpower. In the Premier League, United are possibly one of the weakest teams physically.

“If they don’t get beat tactically or by individual brilliance, then physically they get overpowered or overrun, and in Europe they’ve managed to do that to opposing teams.”

Ferdinand stated that he hoped United’s sensational late comeback against Olympique Lyonnais would act as a spring board for his former side in the competition, in a way it has not in the Premier League.

“I hope it provides a bit of confidence, although the league results since haven’t been improved. I like to think in this competition they feel something. That’s what happens, you get into a groove in a competition and it’s almost like it’s meant to be. Hopefully it’s starting to feel like that for the players.”

The former defender claimed that he would not fancy United’s chances if they had to come to Bilbao in the second leg. Although, one thing that works in their favour is that they will play the final match at Old Trafford.

“Man United need to be at least within a goal (after the first leg). Worst case scenario, one goal behind, I’d still give us a good chance at home given what we saw in the last round.”

Whilst admitting a Europa League win would be an achievement, Ferdinand highlighted that a full pre-season and getting recruitment spot on, were still the most important factors in United improving next season.

Ruben Amorim, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have all recently claimed the same as Ferdinand that while winning the Europa League is a massive goal, nobody at the club thinks that would somehow make the season a success.

Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images

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