‘Do you really believe this?’ - Jermaine Jenas cannot believe what Rio Ferdinand has just predicted about Man United
Rio Ferdinand has predicted a fourth-placed finish for Manchester United at the end of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign, and Jermaine Jenas could not believe him.
While the former Tottenham Hotspur star picked Manchester City to win the title, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa to finish behind them, Ferdinand is tipping Liverpool to finish behind Man City, with Arsenal finishing in third place.
The former Red Devils star insists his old club have what it takes to finish in fourth this term, explaining why.
“Who said ‘sneak in’? I didn’t say ‘sneak in’. Manchester United will be there,” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports when asked why he sneaked the Old Trafford club into his top-four prediction.
“I don’t think they [INEOS] will have any bearing on it at the moment because they are not going to have a bearing on this next transfer window, they are going to be observers looking and seeing what is going on and the big challenges behind the scenes they can then change.
“But I think Manchester United have had one of the most injury-ravaged teams this season, come January a lot of those players will be back and I think they will have a big impact on this team. Manchester United are still in touch, and with a bigger squad back playing, getting results they will hopefully be back in the top four.”
Jenas was baffled by his prediction, questioning the thinking behind it.
“Do you really believe this? Do you honestly believe what you are saying?,” he asked Ferdinand.
The former Man United star fired back: “Yeah, why are you questioning me?”
Jenas retorted: “Because I remember you having a meltdown at Fulham. Mine was a legitimate one. I just don’t think I had a bias nature with mine.
“I think the United shout is a mad one. You have had a meltdown about them all year. That would be unreal. (Erik) ten Hag stays in his seat, everyone’s happy.”
The Red Devils are currently seventh in the table after 19 games despite the woeful campaign they have had, with six points between them and the top-four.
They have won ten games, lost eight and drawn one, and a victory against Nottingham Forest later today will come in very much handy for their top-four hopes.
Ten Hag is under pressure and will be desperate to prove to Sir Jim Ratcliffe that he has what it takes to take the club to the next level.
Man United will be without Cameroon international goalkeeper Andre Onana and Morocco international midfielder Sofyan Amrabat during the Africa Cup of Nations next month and part of February, but their unavailability is unlikely to affect the team.
Most of their injured players are starting to return to fitness, which would come as a much-needed boost going forward, but whether they can break into the top-four remains to be seen given their level of inconsistency.
The post ‘Do you really believe this?’ - Jermaine Jenas cannot believe what Rio Ferdinand has just predicted about Man United appeared first on Man Utd News.