Man Utd legend blasts Man City and Chelsea and questions Jose Mourinho methods

Ferdinand was one of Manchester United's greatest ever centre backs

RIO FERDINAND claims neither the current Chelsea or Manchester City sides are 'great teams' because they've failed to defend their Premier League titles.

 

The 36-year-old won the league six times with Manchester United, and has lashed out at the champions and the leaders respectively after both have shown weakness this season.

Ferdinand, who was part of one of the greatest Premier League teams ever, believes only defending a title shows the class of a side.

"The difference between good teams and great teams is being able to replicate a season," said Ferdinand at Breathe Sport event.

"Man City haven't done it, and this Chelsea team don't like doing it. It's a hard thing to do. 

"This shows you and tells you whether these are great teams. Can you call the Man City team that won two titles in four years a great team? I don't think so."

City are currently two points clear of Arsenal and Manchester United at the top of the table, but have lost twice already domestically as well as a home defeat to Juventus.

 

Ferdinand played against one of Mourinho's 'great' teams

The champions meanwhile have endured a disastrous start to the season and sit twelfth in the Premier League.

And Ferdinand questioned whether Mourinho's methods might be coming undone at Chelsea, especially with the team chopping and changing so much.

 

"I don't think a team in the league is good enough for one of the teams to go on a run winning 15 or 20 games," Ferdinand added.

"Back in the day Chelsea would have gone on a 20-, 25-game run, City did it when they were winning the league, United were always capable of doing it, but I don't see any of those teams doing it this year.

"Mourinho is quite an intense manager. Last year he was intense, they were getting things right, and they won the league.

"The first time around with Mourinho they won back-to-back titles, but it's a hard thing to do, not just mentally but physically as well.

"You've got to be lucky with injuries in terms of your important players staying fit - Kompany can't stay fit, Aguero, David Silva.

"At Chelsea they've had a lot of personnel changes as well which isn't normal for Mourinho."