Rio Ferdinand scored United’s winning goal yesterday to ensure that Sir Alex Ferguson’s last game at Old Trafford finished with a victory.
Rio has now won the Premier League six times but claims he would have been happy with just one winners’ medal when he first joined the club.
“I dreamt of getting one when I turned up here,” he told MUTV. “I remember looking at Ryan Giggs and the others when I arrived. At that stage they had five, six and seven. I just wanted one. I thought I would be happy with that. “But once you get it, you want another. You continue striving to succeed, to achieve things and win trophies. To get six is unbelievable. But that is the main thing at this club, you want to be successful.”
Rio has conceded it has been emotional week after Ferguson announced his retirement, but he is looking forward to the future thanks to the strong foundations the manager has put in place.
“There have been a couple of emotional moments,” he added. “It was like a bolt out of the blue. No one was expecting it. It disappointed a lot of us but I understand the manager’s reasons. He has had a great stint and an unbelievably successful period. He instilled great qualities in the club and we must carry that on. Manchester United has a bright future. The manager has left the club in great health and we are looking forward. We have a great number of good young players who are eager to win things and be successful and work hard. That is what the manager has instilled in these players. The work ethic has to continue if we are going to be successful. I would like to be part of that.”
------------
The RoM Manchester United 2024-25 season preview is now available. It includes articles from the country's best football writers about our expectations for the season ahead and our brightest talents, as well as proposed transfer business and which youth players to keep an eye out for. All profit goes to The Christie so please support this fantastic cause.