Rio Ferdinand has criticised Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick for ‘airing the club’s dirty laundry in public’ and has claimed that he should no longer be allowed to address the media.

Rangnick has frequently been outspoken in press conferences and has criticised United’s recruitment, while he has also hit out at the team’s defending and athleticism.

Former United defender Ferdinand feels that Rangnick shouldn’t be talking so openly about the club’s problems. 

Speaking on his FIVE YouTube show, Ferdinand said: ‘I don’t agree with the way that he’s airing the dirty laundry in public while he’s still in the hotseat, while he’s still in there.

‘It’s nice sometimes for fans, you want to get a bit of insight, but there’s information that he’s letting out [that he shouldn’t be]. You’re still in the job, man, relax, have some respect for the people around you.

‘Make waves behind the scenes. Push and pull and jostle for positions and outcomes behind the scenes with people. I’ve said this for a couple of weeks now, he’s saying a lot of stuff to almost distance himself from responsibility. But he has to accept some responsibility that the team has got worse since he’s been in there.’

Rangnick was left frustrated after his request for the club to sign a striker in the January transfer window was rejected.

While Ferdinand understands that Rangnick is disappointed, he feels that United need to intervene and stop him from having any further press conferences.

Ferdinand said: ‘For all the great work he’s done at previous clubs, a lot of that was recruitment and bringing players in. He’s been brought in to be a manager and manage this team and navigate them to Champions League football. He’s failed in that department, and that’s undeniable.

‘But then he’s shifting blame all over the place and that’s the bit that really I find a little bit distasteful.’

Ralf Rangnick

Ferdinand stressed that people behind the scenes at United will not be pleased with what Rangnick is saying.

‘He was brought in as a consultant first and foremost, and then to do the stuff in the changing room, but with the long-term thinking that he will be behind the scenes working out what is needed for this squad from a recruitment perspective.

‘He’s offering up names and certain talents that he feels would have huge impact immediately, short-term and long-term, and he’s not being backed – and I think that’s where his frustration lies. He mentioned Luis Diaz, Dusan Vlahovic who went to Juventus, but [United] didn’t move, he said the board declined the moves because they’re waiting for the summer

‘I think his impatience with that and his frustrations are being borne out in his interviews now. I’ll be honest, if I was the club I wouldn’t allow him to do another press conference.

‘I don’t want that stuff out in the media. If I’m the person who’s running the club, I’d be saying: “Talk to us and we’ll work it out. You might not agree with what I’m saying but you’re employed by us, these are the rules, stay within the boundaries.”

‘At the moment, he’s saying stuff and I’m sure the people behind the scenes are raising their eyebrows every time there’s a press conference.’

United were thrashed 4-0 by Brighton in their last game and are currently in sixth place in the Premier League as they look to secure qualification for the Europa League.

Rangnick’s final game as interim boss of United will be away to Crystal Palace on May 22.

The United interim boss stated that he considered a move for Luis Diaz, Julian Alvarez or Dusan Vlahovic but he was unable to get approval from the club’s board.