Ferdinand tears into Man Utd trio valued at £97m saying 'no excuses' after defeat to Forest

Rio Ferdinand has unleashed a scathing critique of three Manchester United players as the team crashed away to Nottingham Forest.

Patrick Dorgu, Alejandro Garnacho, and Noussair Mazraoui were singled out for their lacklustre efforts in the 1-0 defeat to Forest at the City Ground.

The pundit and former United defender pinpointed the trio, collectively signed for £97million, as the culprits behind Anthony Elanga’s sensational fifth-minute winner against his former club.

Ferdinand’s frustration boiled over on TNT Sports at half-time, where he dissected how the £35m-rated Dorgu, £45m Garnacho, and £17m Mazraoui failed to stop Elanga’s 85-meter, nine-second sprint from his own half, which ended with a clinical finish past Andre Onana.

Ferdinand fumed that Dorgu was “breezed past” by Elanga’s pace, while Garnacho’s weak attempt to intervene saw him shrugged off with ease. Mazraoui, he argued, was caught flat-footed, unsure whether to press or retreat, and ultimately did neither.

“They’ve got to do better—there’s no excuse for that,” Ferdinand said, highlighting how the trio’s defensive lapses handed Forest the initiative.

The goal came after a United corner was cleared, exposing a recurring vulnerability under Ruben Amorim, whose side couldn’t muster a response despite late chances, like Harry Maguire’s effort cleared off the line by Murillo.

The defeat—United’s 13th in 30 Premier League games this season—dashed hopes of consecutive wins after a 3-0 victory over Leicester before the international break.

It also cemented Forest’s first league double over United since 1991-92, boosting their Champions League aspirations while United languish in 13th. It was a night where United's lack of quality in attack was also exposed.

Ferdinand’s ire reflects broader fan discontent on X, with many echoing his call for accountability among Amorim’s expensive recruits. As United gear up for the Manchester Derby on April 6, the spotlight intensifies on a squad struggling to match its hefty price tags with on-pitch output.