SIR Alex Ferguson has launched a robust defence of Rio Ferdinand against accusations that "his legs have gone".
The startling claim was made by former England manager Graham Taylor at the weekend. Taylor believes Ferdinand's best years are behind him, he will no longer be a force for his country and may struggle to maintain his form for Manchester United.
Ferguson disagrees totally. Having spent last week taking journalists to task over a similarly negative assessment of the 30-year-old, the United manager was probably surprised to be covering the same ground as he prepared for tonight's Champions League encounter with CSKA Moscow – particularly because Ferdinand will be missing with a calf injury.
This time, his response – while not quite so forceful – was even more unequivocal.
"In my time here, we have always had one of our star players finding he gets criticised when he has a little blip," he said. "It seems to be part and parcel of being a player at Manchester United. We are all aware of that.
"No player likes to be criticised. We all like to be loved and want arms around our shoulders at times. But he will come out of it – there is no question about that. There is no discernible depreciation in his qualities – none at all."
The solution, as far as Ferguson is concerned, is straightforward. As Ferdinand has stated himself, what he needs is a run of games. The problem is getting them. Tonight is a non-starter, which places an element of doubt over his participation in Sunday's showdown with Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
"Playing with injury is not the easiest thing to do, and we are trying to get it right," said Ferguson. "Calf injuries can be troublesome. If you don't arrest it and give it proper treatment then you can end up the way we are now, and playing in games when you are not 100 per cent fit. It is difficult to say about the weekend. He is doing some good work, and we hope we will see improvement in the two of them."
In turning the subject matter to a plural, Ferguson was also including Ferdinand's central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic. Yet, take out the Serbian's lamentable run of form in direct opposition to Fernando Torres and few have any long-term worries about Vidic – who is also suffering from a calf problem.
Indeed, the chatter around Old Trafford has been whether it is time for Ferguson to stick with Jonny Evans – who faced Chelsea twice last season without ending up on the losing side.
This evening, Evans will partner Wes Brown and Ferguson said of the latter:
"When he is fit and we bring him in there is no better defender in the country. He is a real true defender."
