A bemused Rio Ferdinand questioned if one Manchester United star was still “on the pitch” during Crystal Palace’s thumping 4-0 Premier League win on Monday evening.
Erik ten Hag’s men suffered a crushing defeat on their trip to Selhurst Park, with Crystal Palace outclassing a woeful Manchester United side.
Michael Olise, who is believed to be a top target at the Red Devils, inflicted the first blow in the match after finding the back of the net in the 12th minute.
Jean-Philippe Mateta doubled Palace’s advantage early in the second half before United-linked Michael Olise completed his brace only eight minutes later.
Erik ten Hag’s second season at Old Trafford has been chaotic, with United lacking consistency and producing lacklustre performances on the pitch.
The United manager has been under intense pressure amid speculation mounting over his long-term future at Old Trafford after Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival at the club.
Ten Hag’s first-team squad has been ravaged with injuries this season, with Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire both missing the Palace match at Selhurst Park.
Ferdinand asked about one Man Utd star
Manchester United have only three Premier League matches and the FA Cup final remaining before their tumultuous campaign is over.
Erik ten Hag’s men have slipped to eighth place in the league table, with United facing the real possibility of missing out on any European football altogether.
United, who have won only once in their last five league matches, are level with seventh-place Chelsea and two points adrift from sixth-place Newcastle.
Bruno Fernandes’ absence for the Crystal Palace match – his first missed fixture for United due to injury – allowed former Chelsea star Mason Mount to start.
Mason Mount was a marquee signing for Ten Hag last summer, but the United star’s debut season at Old Trafford has been marred due to injuries.
The 25-year-old United player had his opportunity to shine at Selhurst Park and appeared lively in the opening 10 minutes of the match against Palace.
However, Mount’s influence waned as the Premier League clash went on and the England international was met with criticism for his overall performance.
The Three Lions international was pulled off in the 80th minute and replaced with Amad Diallo, but even Rio Ferdinand was unaware if Mount was still on the pitch.
That is according to Stephen Howson, who is a presenter on Ferdinand’s VIBE with FIVE show and revealed the United legend’s reaction to Mount.
When asked about Mount’s performance, he said on his YouTube channel: “I was texting with Rio through the game, actually, and Rio asked, ‘Is he [Mount] even on the pitch?’
“I actually thought for the first 10 minutes I’m sitting there going, ‘Mount’s having a good game.’ After then after that first 10 minutes, I don’t remember seeing him.”
Howson added: “[…] Outside of that first 10 minutes, he was just invisible.”
Ten Hag on Man Utd and his future
Speaking after the 4-0 defeat, Ten Hag insisted that his focus is on United’s season rather than the speculation around his club future.
“I don’t think about this [my future],” he said, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“I prepare the team in the best way I can. We have many problems.
“The only focus I have is to perform better with my team. I think only about making my team better.”