{"id":8509,"date":"2026-05-14T21:28:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T21:28:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=8509"},"modified":"2026-05-14T21:28:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T21:28:31","slug":"rio-ferdinand-declares-love-for-west-ham-but-issues-bleak-verdict-on-relegation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=8509","title":{"rendered":"Rio Ferdinand declares love for West Ham but issues bleak verdict on relegation"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"\"\/ Add as preferred source on Google<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Rio Ferdinand has professed his love for West Ham ahead of what he believes is a likely relegation from the Premier League. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Ferdinand is not always deemed the most popular figure among West Ham fans but the former England defender has been full of praise for them as they face the prospect of relegation. <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Let us know your prediction for West Ham\u2019s trip to Newcastle! \ud83e\udd1e<\/h3>\n

Our away record has been woeful this season! \ud83d\ude2c<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"Jarrod<\/div>
Photo by Marc Atkins\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Indeed, while things are not decided yet, West Ham are two points from safety with just two games left to play. <\/p>\n

While Ferdinand has previously upset West Ham fans, he has expressed his sadness at the situation. <\/p>\n

Ferdinand praises his time at West Ham<\/h2>\n

Speaking on talkSPORT, the pundit said: \u201cI think it\u2019s going to be hard now. I love that club. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a club where I grew up. It\u2019s the club where I made my name. It gave me all the opportunities in football. <\/p>\n

\u201cListen, I\u2019ve got loads of memories of West Ham when I played in the first team, but some of the best memories and the most ingrained memories are when I\u2019m on the coach journeys, on the trains and the buses to training in the rain and the coaches that have given their lives to you as a young player to make it as a pro. <\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Oh wow \ud83d\udc40 How has Tottenham\u2019s draw with Leeds made YOU feel about the relegation battle?!<\/h3>\n

This weirdly feels like a boost?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"A<\/div>
Credit: Getty Images\/Rob Newell \u2013 CameraSport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019m ingrained in that club and my brother obviously played there, my nephew\u2019s now playing there. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an unbelievable football club and I\u2019ll be so sad to see West Ham go down, but I do think they\u2019re in the thick of it. <\/p>\n

Ferdinand thinks West Ham need a miracle to stay up<\/h2>\n

Ferdinand also conceded that his former team needed a minor miracle to stay in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cIt\u2019s going to be difficult and they\u2019re going to need some almost miracles produced in the next couple of games.\u201d <\/p>\n

Though there\u2019s little doubt that West Ham are statistical favourites to be relegated, the situation is not quite as dire as he\u2019s painted out. <\/p>\n

West Ham just need to beat Newcastle on Sunday and hope Chelsea beat Tottenham on Tuesday night. Neither of those results are beyond the realms of possibility and it would not be a shock to see them go in West Ham\u2019s favour. <\/p>\n

\n
\"Jarrod<\/div>
Photo by Catherine Ivill \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then, it all comes down to the last day. West Ham host Leeds and Spurs play Everton. Anything could happen then. <\/p>\n

It is still arguably too much to say that miracles are needed. Given Newcastle\u2019s reasonably poor home form, the idea that West Ham could be out of the relegation zone heading into the final day of the campaign is not to be ruled out. <\/p>\n

Ferdinand appears to be putting a lot of trust in a Spurs team who were lucky to even draw with Leeds on Monday night ahead of what look like two more difficult games than West Ham face. <\/p>\n

A third relegation in the Premier League era is far from confirmed just yet. <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/svg><\/p>\n
Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n