Rio Ferdinand left red-faced after Man Utd icon and fellow pundit nearly needed separating

At the end of the previous season, Rio Ferdinand made a daring prediction regarding Manchester United.

Rio Ferdinand made a bold prediction about Manchester United at the end of last year (Image: TNTSPORTS)

After making the incorrect prediction that Manchester United would place among the top four teams in the Premier League this year, Rio Ferdinand has been left looking embarrassed. After calling fellow pundit Jermaine Jenas’ prediction “mad,” the former England defender made the audacious claim on TNT Sports at the end of 2023, almost requiring the former midfielder to be separated from Jenas.

Before Chelsea’s 3-2 victory over Luton at Kenilworth Road in late December, Ferdinand and Jenas were asked to list their top four predictions. Manchester City was named the winner by both, and Liverpool and Arsenal were included in the top four. However, they couldn’t agree on the final Champions League qualification spot, with Jenas choosing Aston Villa and Ferdinand sticking with his former employers.

Ferdinand yelled, “I didn’t say sneak in, Man United will be there.” “Manchester United has, in my opinion, had one of the worst injury reports this season. Many of those players will return in January, and I believe they will significantly improve this team. Manchester United is still active and should return to the top four with a stronger team that is producing results.

Jenas shot back, looking shocked: “Do you believe this? Are you really saying what you think? “Yeah, why are you questioning me?” Ferdinand joked.

As he went on, Jenas hinted that Ferdinand’s allegiance to his club was winning out. “I remember you having a meltdown at Fulham,” she said. My own was a valid one. I simply don’t believe that my actions were biased. When Ferdinand brought up Jenas’ brief 2011 loan to Villa, the BBC One Show host shot back, saying, “I think the United shout is a mad one.” I’ve watched you obsess over United year after year, and now you’re placing them in the top four?

In response, Ferdinand said, “I’m up and down with them, just like a yo-yo.” Yes, I am, and I love it, I admit it. It will be a passable season if Manchester United finishes fourth and doesn’t take home a trophy, which is highly likely. Furthermore, Ferdinand stated with assurance, “Well, they’re in there; they’ll bounce in there.” They could place third.

“Are you two okay now?” TNT Sports host Jules Breach posed as an attempt to defuse the tension between the two former players. “Yeah, we’re alright,” Ferdinand answered. We shall see at the conclusion of the season, I suppose. “We’ll stop it now before we have to separate you two,” Breach continued.

Ferdinand was completely wrong when he made this prediction, as United has had a terrible second half to the season. After winning just two of their previous ten premier league games, Erik ten Hag’s team has dropped to eighth place in the standings. With three games left, they trail fourth-place Villa by 13 points after losing 4-0 to Crystal Palace on Monday night.