Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand says manager Jose Mourinho refuses to back his attacking players.

Ferdinand, 39, acknowledges his former side have progressed from last season with their second-placed finish.

But now he says boss Mourinho needs to do his homework to get his multi-million pound frontline firing.

“On paper, this United side is as good as any team in the Premier League," said Ferdinand.

“If you put our attack against Man City's players, there's really not much between them.

“Alexis Sanchez, Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial against Sane, Raheem Sterling, Jesus and Aguero.

“So City are not 19 points better in terms of just pure talent.

“But it's about who gets put into the team.

“Also what kind of philosophy there is behind the squad, how they gel. City have done that better than United."