Rio Ferdinand backs Steve McClaren for Manchester United role

Whenever Manchester United encounter a turbulent period of form, references associated with the past tend to emerge at Old Trafford. A countless number of ex-players who now work in the media regularly refer back to their own experiences during their playing days when analysing problems at the club.

Manchester United’s youngsters will be aiming to emulate the famed 'Class of 92' as they look to create their own piece of history this week.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s purported conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson is ‘not out of the ordinary’ according to Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand. Ralf Rangnick’s side’s promising 1-1 home draw with Chelsea and 3-0 victory against Brentford was followed up with a dismal 4-0 drubbing away to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Manchester United are now in their "natural place" such is the nature of their incredible downward decline.The disgraced Red Devils were put to the sword against Brighton on Saturday as the Seagulls recorded their first home win since Boxing Day. The 4-0 thumping condemns United to their worst ever Premier League season - Ralf Rangnick's side can now only achieve a maximum points tally of 61, three less than their previous low in David Moyes' solitary season in charge."It will never be seen as acceptable but right now, this is United's natural place in the modern Premier League — chasing Champions League qualification," wrote Crouch in his column for the Daily Mail.

Crisiano Ronaldo cut a very frustrated and fed up character during and after Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton on Saturday.

Manchester United's 4-0 defeat to Brighton and says Sir Alex Ferguson would have ripped into his dressing room had he been in charge.United suffered one of their most embarrassing defeats of the Premier League era on Saturday evening as Graham Potter's Brighton dished out a seaside walloping at the Amex Stadium.Moises Caicedo opened the scoring after 15 minutes, but the real damage was done early in the second half when Marc Cucurella, Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard all scored in a devastating 11 minute spell for the hosts. Interim boss Ralf Rangnick looked powerless in his technical area as he watched this latest disaster unfold.

Rio Ferdinand has apologised to Jose Mourinho after the ex-Manchester United manager was mocked for claiming that clinching second spot in the Premier League with United was one of his 'biggest achievements'.United have struggled ever since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down back in 2013, but Mourinho did enjoy some success during his tenure at Old Trafford. The Portuguese chief won the Carabao Cup and the Europa League in his first season in Manchester but he was given the boot in 2018.Speaking a year later, Mourinho was ridiculed after claiming that his achievements at United ranked as one of the best in his career.

Kate Wright was in her mid-twenties when she met former Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand.The TOWIE star, now 31, herself had no children at the time, whilst new partner Rio, 43, was already father to Lorenz, 15, Tate, 13, and Tia, 11 from his previous marriage to wife Rebecca Ellison, who died from breast cancer in 2015 at the age of 34. Being a stepmum was a new role for Kate who, as an only child brought up by her mum after her parents divorced, hadn’t experienced looking after kids before. Speaking exclusively to OK! about her struggle during the early days of her relationship, Kate explained: "I’m stronger than I thought I was.

Rio Ferdinand is redefining the role of stepmum after the family swelled to six with the birth of their first baby together. Kate Ferdinand became stepmother to her husband's three children and the couple welcomed Cree to the group in December 2020. She is now producing a new podcast, Blended, highlights stepfamilies.

Here are your Manchester United evening headlines for Sunday, May 8.

Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig have no interest in selling Christopher Nkunku this summer amid ongoing links connecting him with a move to Manchester United.

Rio Ferdinand says Pep Guardiola will not even have to write a team talk before Manchester City lock horns with Newcastle on Sunday afternoon (4.30pm). Yet to kick a ball this weekend, Guardiola and his men have already saw their Premier League title aspirations boosted when Liverpool were held by Tottenham on Saturday afternoon.

Cristiano Ronaldo has discussed his future at Manchester United with former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Manchester United knew before their clash with Brighton & Hove Albion would make the 2021/22 season the club's worst since the inception of the Premier League in terms of points totals.The performance from the team in an abject 4-0 loss showed exactly why this team has managed to accrue such a meagre total.Erik ten Hag has been confirmed as the new manager from next season and while you could say the only way is up for this team after they reached a Premier League nadir, the Dutchman would have been concerned by so many aspects of the performance on the south coast on Saturday.United could still make it to 61 points if they win on the final day of the campaign at Crystal Palace, although that would leave them short of some of the worst efforts put together over a 38-game campaign.Here are the others that rival it...This season was always going to be a challenging one.After the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes filled the vacant position at Old Trafford and took charge of the champions. Is this the worst Manchester United team of the Premier League era? Let us know in the comments section below!However, Moyes missed out on a number of key transfer targets, ended up adding Marouane Fellaini in the summer and the team suffered badly, clearly lacking direction without the inspired leadership of Ferguson.Moyes was sacked before the end of the season when it was confirmed United could not qualify for the Champions League, triggering a managerial merry-go-round the club is still stuck on.The infamous Jose Mourinho third season.After finishing in second place the campaign before, there was an expectation that United would kick on to challenge for the Premier League.

Reality star turned trailblazer for the modern family, Kate Ferdinand, is redefining the role of stepmother. Famously stepmum to husband Rio’s three children, the couple welcomed their firstborn together, Cree, at the height of lockdown in December 2020 to become a beautiful blended family of six.Their brood is as far from the stereotypical 2.4 children as it gets. Yet, with one in four families now stepfamilies in the UK, it’s not just Kate’s relatives who are challenging the norm while providing her with more love than she ever thought imaginable.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly been discussing his Manchester United future with former boss Sir Alex Ferguson in private meetings.The Portuguese icon is understood to have enjoyed regular chats with the legendary Red Devils manager over cups of tea this season at their respective luxury Cheshire homes, according to The Mirror.Ronaldo, who lives close to Ferguson, has been a regular visitor at the Scotsman’s house while also hosting the Old Trafford hero at his own home. Ferguson is said to have been integral in the forward choosing United over rivals Manchester City last summer before he completed a £12.9million move.And Sir Alex is reportedly keen to protect Ronaldo’s Man United legacy once more by convincing him to stay beyond this season.

Manchester United star Paul Pogba to join neighbours Manchester City.The soon-to-be free agent is being eyed up by Pep Guardiola, according to the Daily Mail. After six years of mediocrity with the Red Devils, his switch to serial winners City would send shockwaves through the city.But history has shown that anything is possible when the right deal is put on the table.

Mikel Arteta would still remain in charge of Arsenal over two years down the line - including the Spaniard himself.Back then, the Gunners were enduring a wretched run of form. Heading into a Boxing Day London derby with Chelsea, Arteta's men had taken a mere two points from seven previous Premier League fixtures and were without a league win in almost two months.However, a 3-1 success over the Blues offered up hope as Arteta himself confessed to questioning whether he could cut at the helm of the North London club.

Champions League heartbreak, it appears Manchester City mean business in this summer's transfer window.Pep Guardiola's side were minutes away from securing their spot in a second successive Champions League final on Wednesday night before a late capitulation saw Real Madrid complete the most astonishing of comebacks. The dramatic defeat left the Spaniard looking shell-shocked as City's hopes of clinching Europe's greatest honour were once again shelved for another year.City will now have to wait until next season to give European glory another go, when it appears they may well be bigger and better than ever before.

Gerard Pique says former Bolton Wanderers and Real Madrid defender Fernando Hierro was his favourite player as a child as he highlighted Manchester United and Barcelona legends too as big influences.

Former striker Quinton Fortune believes Erik ten Hag needs to form a happy environment to make Manchester United successful again, referencing how Sir Alex Ferguson made the club stand head and shoulders above everyone else during his time in charge.