Rio Ferdinand hits out at Erik ten Hag for 'unfair' treatment of Man United player and insists struggling Red Devils looked 'UNTRAINED' in defeat to Arsenal

Manchester United collapsed to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at Old Trafford
Rio Ferdinand criticized Erik ten Hag for his treatment of United player
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Rio Ferdinand has criticized Erik ten Hag for his treatment of Manchester United midfielder Casemiro and urged him to stop playing him as a defender.

Casemiro started in central defense alongside Jonny Evans in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford, but made a horror error in the build-up to the only goal of the game.

The veteran midfielder played Kai Havertz after failing to move upfield, allowing the striker to cross for Leandro Trossard to head home at the near post.

United, missing Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof in center half, also fielded Casemiro in defense in the 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, where he made two more errors leading to goals .

With the 32-year-old visibly struggling in his emergency role, United legend Ferdinand insisted he would prefer other players to step in instead for the rest of the season and blamed to Ten Hag for being “unfair” in his decision-making.

Rio Ferdinand blamed Erik ten Hag for Casemiro’s poor form at Manchester United

Casemiro (left) plays against Kai Havertz for Arsenal’s goal in their 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

Ferdinand says it’s ‘unfair’ for Ten Hag to continue using Casemiro as emergency defender

“When is he going to take Casemiro out of the back line? Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand Presents Five.

“Why can’t Sofyan Amrabat play there? Or Scott McTominay? I just don’t think it’s fair.

“If you see a few mistakes from someone who plays there, who’s never played there before, and you see the mistakes right from the start, you should say, ‘You know what, I’m not going to not do that to you” – I don’t care about his experience.

“Come on, get him out of there and back to the position he knows. Play it Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Then you could have Amrabat at right back.

“It’s the most natural thing for me. Wan-Bissaka at centre-back and Amrabat at right-back. He was happy to play him at left back for a few games.

Embattled boss Ten Hag is under pressure and faces being sacked at the end of the season.

Havertz was released in the left channel and crossed for Leandro Trossard to tap home

United legends Wayne Rooney (left) and Roy Keane (right) attacked Casemiro for the gaffe

“We looked like an uncoached team. On the creative side of the field, we were lacking greatly. The decision making and quality was not there.

United greats Wayne Rooney and Roy Keane attacked Casemiro after his nightmare performance and branded him “lazy” for his role in the Arsenal goal.

“It’s lazy. He’s lazy,” Rooney said in a scathing assessment. “The rest of his teammates have been sent off and are getting caught. He needs to get out.

“Whether you are a midfielder or a central defender, you have to be ready to stand out with the rest of the team. Otherwise, you put everyone on the line and you get punished.

Keane added on Sky Sports: “Casemiro can’t play in the Premier League in centre-half. Whatever your shortcomings are, you can’t control your pace. There was also a bit of laziness in terms of the outings which led to the goal.

“We’re not saying Casemiro can cover 60 or 70 meters, it’s 10 or 15 meters. You have to get up the pitch. Just move your feet. Casemiro as a central defender will be uncovered, which he did again today was the defining moment of the match.