- Manchester United take on Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday
- Both sides have endured dismal league campaigns, losing a combined 39 games
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Rio Ferdinand has highlighted one specific worry he has for Man United in the Europa League final against Tottenham.
United will take on Spurs in Bilbao on Wednesday night in the showpiece event as Ruben Amorim’s side aim to rescue what has been a dismal season.
Things haven’t been much better for Tottenham, with the North London club one place below United in 17th in the Premier League after 21 defeats in 37 games.
The winner of the clash will secure a spot in next season’s Champions League, meaning it could prove to be a real sliding doors moment for both clubs.
However, Ferdinand has expressed his concerns over United’s physical inferiority and believes this weakness could be exposed against Premier League opposition.
‘The worrying thing for me from a Man United perspective is that physically we can’t keep up with any team in the Premier League,’ he told talkSPORT.
Rio Ferdinand has one specific worry for Man United in the Europa League final this week
United are hoping to rescue what has been a dismal season with victory in the showpiece event
Ferdinand fears United’s physical inferiority will be exposed by a fellow Premier League team
‘If they go man-to-man and go toe-to-toe with us we’re at a disadvantage because our profile of our players at Man United are not players that can run as hard and as fast, and as long, and they’re not as powerful as other teams.
‘That’s a big thing in the Premier League. In the Europa, we’re overpowering every team.
‘There’s only one team I’ve watched us play against in the Europa League that we struggled against and thought “Ooh, that was a bit too close for comfort.” Rangers, who are more akin to a Premier League side, physically.
‘So that’s the concern for me in the final playing against a Premier League team, who have beaten us three times, that physically can, minimum, match us.’
Despite Ferdinand’s concerns, Amorim’s side remain unbeaten in Europe and they have knocked out Real Sociedad, Lyon and Athletic Bilbao en route to the final.
However, as Ferdinand alludes to, United have been beaten by Spurs three times in the league this season and they have lost 18 of their 37 top flight fixtures.
And given the fluctuations in their performances, Ferdinand admitted that he is unsure which version of United will turn up in Bilbao.
‘I have to be honest, I can’t call a Man United result,’ he told Optus Sport. ‘They’re so inconsistent or they have consistently been bad in the Premier League.’
Ferdinand claimed Rangers were the side to have caused United the most problems in Europe
He also insisted it would not be a shock if Spurs were to win the Europa League final in Bilbao
‘But the fact that they are playing against Spurs, another consistently bad team in the Premier League. But they have players who can win a match. It makes it such a hard game to call.
‘I don’t think the fans can be too surprised (if Spurs win). They beat us three times already this season, so it’s not going to be a surprise if they beat us a fourth time.
‘I think it’s only going to be stupid people that are going, “Oh my god, I can’t believe this.”
‘We’re 16th because we’ve lost a lot of games. 18 Premier League games we’ve lost this season. Anyone who’s surprised if we don’t win this game against Spurs is a lunatic in my eyes.’
