Rio Ferdinand agrees with Ralf Rangnick's assessment of Ten Hag "distraction"

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has agreed with the assertion from interim manager Ralf Rangnick that uncertainty over the next permanent manager at Old Trafford shouldn't be used as an excuse.

United were beaten 1-0 by struggling Everton on Saturday, with the return of Cristiano Ronaldo failing to return Rangnick's side to winning ways. The Red Devils have won just one of their last five games in the league, and after the game there were questions about whether the delays over appointing a new full-time boss might be affecting matters on the pitch.

Erik ten Hag is expected to get the job, with Ajax banning English media from their manager's press conferences as talk gets louder. Rangnick had earlier said he remains prepared to brief his permanent successor, but he and Ferdinand were singing from a similar hymn sheet as far as distractions were concerned.

"I don't think this should be an excuse," Rangnick said on BT Sport when quizzed on the managerial situation. "We're Manchester United, we have a lot of international players, this cannot be an alibi or distraction.

"There will be a new manager next season, whether it is announced now, in 14 days, 20 days, this should have no effect on a game like today." And, while Ferdinand was also reluctant to offer excuses, he did at least acknowledge an environment of uncertainty is rarely conducive to good results.

"Uncertainty isn't great at any level of a football club," the pundit said. "A club the size of Man United, the stature, you'd expect there to be a lot more in terms of being organised, an interim manager wouldn't be part of the script."

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"But we are where we are and you have to deal with that," Ferdinand continued. "Man United have to go on and have to get results, and the players have got to disassociate themselves with what goes on off the pitch.

"When I was there, you didn't really care if there was noise around the Glazers and stuff, that is a side issue, you don't get yourself involved in that. You have to get your head away from that.

"What I'm saying is that as players, the experienced players have to lead this. It's like the manager said, there's no excuses. We've got things to do. There's a Champions League place that's still up for grabs ahead of us."

The defeat at Goodison Park left United down in seventh, three points behind Arsenal and Tottenham before the two London sides kicked off their weekend fixtures. With just seven games to go, they are running out of time to secure Champions League football before their new boss arrives.