United have seen off the best of Italy and France in this season’s Champions League – and Rio Ferdinand is confident of doing the same to Barcelona in the semi-finals.
The Reds defender is far from fazed by the Catalan giants’ wealth of attacking talent and even questioned their tag as the competition’s best team.
“We are confident, definitely,” he told ManUtd.com. “People talk about them being the best side in the tournament but I don’t know.
“We have already beaten Roma and Lyon, the best sides in Italy and France. Barcelona, if you look at the league table, aren’t the best team in Spain and weren’t last season either.
“We know we’re playing a top side. People talk about ‘acid tests’ but I think each game is an acid test. Barcelona have great prestige and history, but whether they’re the best team around at the moment, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Ferdinand is excited by the prospect of Wednesday’s first leg at the Nou Camp, and is seeking a defensive performance similar to that which the Reds produced in the Stadio Olimpico at the start of the month.
The 29-year-old added: “I hope we defend as a team and are compact because if we are open, they have the players to punish us. So, fingers crossed, we’ll be a tight unit and will be able to hit them on the counter-attack like we did in Rome.
“I’m looking forward to the game and the occasion – the Nou Camp is a prestigious arena with great traditions. The players on show are all illustrious names and talented footballers, so to be able to come up against them is a fantastic opportunity.”
Ferdinand was speaking at the launch of United's National Curriculum Education Programme at Old Trafford.
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Reds on the plane to Spain
A full-strength United squad, minus the injured Louis Saha, flew out to Barcelona on Tuesday morning ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League semi-final first leg.
The Reds will train at the collossal Nou Camp stadium on Tuesday night before taking on Frank Rijkaard's FC Barcelona the following evening (kick-off 19:45 BST).
All those involved in the weekend's draw with Blackburn Rovers travelled, as did Edwin van der Sar, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves, who all sat out the Rovers game due to minor injuries. Sir Alex has said he expects all three to be fit to face Barcelona.
Darren Fletcher, injured since late March, was among the 23-man party, as was club captain Gary Neville and youngster Danny Welbeck.
United squad: Heaton, Kuszczak, van der Sar; Brown, Evra, Ferdinand, Neville, Pique, Silvestre, Vidic; Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Hargreaves, Nani, O'Shea, Park, Ronaldo, Scholes; Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck
All those involved in the weekend's draw with Blackburn Rovers travelled, as did Edwin van der Sar, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves, who all sat out the Rovers game due to minor injuries. Sir Alex has said he expects all three to be fit to face Barcelona.
Darren Fletcher, injured since late March, was among the 23-man party, as was club captain Gary Neville and youngster Danny Welbeck.
United squad: Heaton, Kuszczak, van der Sar; Brown, Evra, Ferdinand, Neville, Pique, Silvestre, Vidic; Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Hargreaves, Nani, O'Shea, Park, Ronaldo, Scholes; Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck
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The Reds will train at the collossal Nou Camp stadium on Tuesday night before taking on Frank Rijkaard's FC Barcelona the following evening (kick-off 19:45 BST).
All those involved in the weekend's draw with Blackburn Rovers travelled, as did Edwin van der Sar, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves, who all sat out the Rovers game due to minor injuries. Sir Alex has said he expects all three to be fit to face Barcelona.
Darren Fletcher, injured since late March, was among the 23-man party, as was club captain Gary Neville and youngster Danny Welbeck.
United squad: Heaton, Kuszczak, van der Sar; Brown, Evra, Ferdinand, Neville, Pique, Silvestre, Vidic; Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Hargreaves, Nani, O'Shea, Park, Ronaldo, Scholes; Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck
All those involved in the weekend's draw with Blackburn Rovers travelled, as did Edwin van der Sar, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves, who all sat out the Rovers game due to minor injuries. Sir Alex has said he expects all three to be fit to face Barcelona.
Darren Fletcher, injured since late March, was among the 23-man party, as was club captain Gary Neville and youngster Danny Welbeck.
United squad: Heaton, Kuszczak, van der Sar; Brown, Evra, Ferdinand, Neville, Pique, Silvestre, Vidic; Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Hargreaves, Nani, O'Shea, Park, Ronaldo, Scholes; Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck
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Ron: Double will make us best ever
Cristiano Ronaldo has told his United pals: “We’ll only be the best ever if we win the Premier League and Champions League Double.” Sir Alex Ferguson hailed his current squad as the top United side in his 22 years as manager — even better than the 1999 Treble-winners. But, ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League showdown with Barcelona, Ronaldo insists that only winning silverware this season can prove Fergie right. “What he said about the team makes me feel great," he said. "Ferguson has been at the club for more than 20 years. He has signed great players, incredible goalscorers. I also think this is the most talented team Ferguson’s had - but you can only confirm that at the end of the season by seeing what the team has won. Only if we win the Champions League or the Premier League will we be able to give a definitive answer as to whether this is really the best United team of all time."
Antony Kastrinakis, The Sun Read more...
Antony Kastrinakis, The Sun Read more...
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