Rio Ferdinand has compared Marcus Rashford with PSG whizz-kid and World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe. The former Man Utd and England star rates Mbappe alongside Brazilian legend Ronaldo in terms of ability and fear factor. Mbappe, a World Cup winner with France, wreaked havoc in the Champions League Last 16 first-leg victory over United, scoring the decisive second goal in the second half at Old Trafford. Only 14 months in age separate Mbappe, 20, and Rashford, 21, but Ferdinand reckons there is a giant chasm in terms of playing abilities.
Ferdinand, a BT Sport pundit, said: “I looked at one end of the pitch at Old Trafford and I saw Rashford. At the other was Mbappe. People have been talking about them. But I think Mbappe’s experience, level of games he has played means he is at a higher, different place to Rashford at the moment. I also saw the impact and the effect Mbappe had on the back four compared to Rashford.
“I saw a back four of PSG, aggressive, on the front foot, up against Rashford every time he had the ball or the ball was coming into his areas. Whereas the Man Utd back four, I could see fear dropping back because of the influence and reputation of Mbappe. The top, top, top, top players strike fear into people before a ball is kicked, before a whistle is blown. That’s where Mbappe is right now.
“I saw that at Old Trafford. The players didn’t want to be near him. They were like: ‘I know what he wants, I know his pace, I am running back.’ And left him acres of space half of the time. Mbappe’s the closet thing I have seen to the Brazilian Ronaldo. Ronaldo was the man – my favourite player alongside Maradona growing up – and this kid is the nearest I have seen to it. Mbappe is a phenomenon in what he is doing. His age. How good he is in all departments. His decision-making. Especially if PSG go deep into this tournament as well it will be hard to bet against him.”
Asked how Ferdinand would have defended against Mbappe, he joked: “F*** knows! I was quick but he seems to be on another level in terms of pace. It’s about stopping him getting the ball. When he does get the ball, you have to be prepared to shine him into areas that aren’t as dangerous like showing him on to his left foot. But when someone is that quick he can actually run past you – like Thierry Henry used to – then it’s a problem.”