Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has taken a dig over former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand for defending Cristiano Ronaldo after he was benched in Red Devil’s recent defeat at Etihad Stadium.
On October 2 when Erik ten Hag’s side played the Manchester Derby against Pep Guardiola’s Cityzens, Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t get a chance to make an appearance off the bench. He was an unused substitute.
And it’s fair to say that the former Real Madrid player has been on the bench for the majority of the season. Cristiano Ronaldo has started only one match in the Premier League this season. And in total, he got to start only two games.
Erik ten Hag’s decision of not subbing in Cristiano Ronaldo caught a lot of eyeballs. And the super controversial decision led former players Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand to argue about it.
What did really happen between Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand?
The former Ajax manager said in the post-match press conference that he didn’t sub in the Portuguese attacker with respect for his career. Carragher took to Twitter to share his thoughts, saying:
“The idea that Erik ten Hag got it wrong yesterday by not playing Ronaldo is laughable! Ronaldo played at Brentford when it was 4-0 at half-time! It’s not a dig at Cristiano Ronaldo, but Rashford’s pace on the counter-attack as we saw v Arsenal/Liverpool was [100 per cent] the best option.”
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand replied to Jamie Carragher by mocking him. And he also recalled a scenario when Cristiano Ronaldo broke in the pre-match conference where he spoke with Gary Neville and Roy Keane ignoring Jamie Carragher.
“Carra you still upset he didn’t shake ur hand at Old Trafford? [laughing emojis]. The hardest thing to do in football is score goals…” Ferdinand said.
And hitting back at the former Red Devils player, Carragher replied by warning Ferdinand to not be a fanboy of the Portuguese striker.
“Rio I know how it works, he’s your mate and you/Evra [Patrice, former teammate and United left-back] and the rest are on the group WhatsApp and he asks you to come out and defend him, don’t be his fanboy you’re Rio Ferdinand for ***!!”
