Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has vowed to keep fighting for his place at the heart of United’s back-four, but he knows it’s getting harder with age.
The 35-year-old faces tough competition from the likes of; Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, and the Englishman understands that it will be hard for him to keep a regular spot in David Moyes’ starting line-up.
However, Ferdinand, who played a crucial part in last year’s title win, is admant that he can prove people wrong again with yet another impressive campaign.
“Obviously, you want to play in every minute of every game, but at this stage of my career, I know that’s not possible,” Ferdinand said in the Daily Telegraph.
“I know the manager is going to put me in and out of the games, but I want to be involved in as many as I can.
“I think you go out there and play and put yourself in the shop window and the manager will decide if you play or not, but we’re blessed with a number of good centre-backs here.
“Every season is a big challenge, you set yourself targets and I have always done that.
“At the beginning of last season, people were probably writing me off and saying I wasn’t able to play in back-to-back games and play at this level but I was part of a championship-winning team, which said it all.
“Last season has no bearing on people’s opinions this season, though, so you have to start again and prove yourself. That’s part and parcel of it, every season that happens.
“I’ve been in back-to-back title-winning teams and people still write about me personally or the team so I’m used to it.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
