Rio Ferdinand claims 'emotional' Man United have 'no rigidness' after facing 100 shots in four matches... as the former Red Devils star insists 'magnificent' Kobbie Mainoo has been left exposed by his team-mates

Former Man United star Rio Ferdinand has claimed the current side need leaders amid their current struggles, insisting Erik ten Hag's side are too emotional.

The Red Devils face Chelsea on Thursday evening before a crunch clash with rivals Liverpool on Sunday as they bid to close the gap to the Champions League places.

Ten Hag's side head into the match following a dismal performance in a 1-1 draw with Brentford, which saw the Bees rack up 31 shots.

In total, Man United have faced 100 shots on their goal across their last four matches,  

Ferdinand, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet, said he would be calling for increased protection had he been playing as a central defender in the current Man United team.

The former Man United star insisted the team need leaders to keep players in position, suggesting Ten Hag's side are too emotional. 

'You need leaders to be talking and pulling people about in games,' Ferdinand said. 'How many times would you [Gary Neville] say to someone 'For the next few minutes, just sit and stay tight, be hard to play against.'

'I think emotion comes into this [Manchester United] team a lot. 'They are quite emotional players; they just go gung-ho at times – there's no rigidness to this team.'

Ferdinand, who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League at Man United, had responded to Jamie Carragher's ongoing concerns about the Red Devils' approach.

The former Liverpool defender said that Man United 'look like two separate teams in one', with the front five leaving a massive space by trying to press.

Ferdinand questioned the lack of protection for Kobbie Mainoo, despite the 18-year-old's impressive performances in his breakthrough season.

He insisted that experienced players in the team should take responsibility to ensure Mainoo is not being left exposed and enforce the structure in the team.

'You look at Kobbie Mainoo, who everyone is raving about and rightly so – he's been magnificent since he's come into the team. But I don't see anyone trying to protect him,' Ferdinand said.

'He's a kid – imagine if a young kid came into one of our teams, you try and protect that kid.

'There's only the odd one, like Wayne Rooney, you don't have to protect, but in the main you want to make sure there's bodies around, don't leave him exposed.

'How many games do you see him being left exposed? Imagine that feeling, being exposed in that midfield, it's a lonely place in there if there's big spaces.

'There's got to be older players and coaches in that team that make sure they tighten it up for that player, especially for the game at the weekend [against Liverpool].'

Man United face a vital week as they bid to close an 11 point gap to fourth placed Aston Villa in the Premier League, with Ten Hag’s side having two games in hand on Unai Emery’s men.

The Red Devils lie sixth in the table ahead of matches with Chelsea and Liverpool, nine points behind Tottenham in fifth.

Man United will seek a repeat of their FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool on Sunday.