Fergie: Slow Rio must change his game quickly
Published 22:31 01/11/11 By David McDonnell
Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Rio Ferdinand he must change his game after losing his pace.
Ferdinand returns to the Manchester United line-up in the Champions League tonight, but has struggled with injuries and indifferent form this season and is no longer an automatic choice.
He was left out of the last England squad and Ferguson conceded the centre-back – a £30million buy from Leeds in 2002 – was missing his “electric yard”.
“Rio is almost 33 and has obviously lost the yard of pace he had five years ago,” said Ferguson, who has been ruthless in the past in discarding players he feels are past their best.
“But that doesn’t mean he can’t tailor his game in a different way. The way he used to rely on his pace, he can’t do that now.
“We’ve all faced that decisive moment in a career when you have to realise you have to change your game.
“I did it myself as a player when I lost my sharpness and tailored my game differently – and Rio will do the same. If he does he will be fine.
“He will have to rearrange his game a little but he’s still one of the best footballers in the country in terms of his use of the ball.
“He still has a great presence, he still can tackle and still can head the ball but what has changed for Rio is he’s lost that electric yard he had a few years ago.
“But he will change and play a big part, no question about that.
“I don’t think there’s any problem. He’s been with us nine years now and has been a fantastically consistent performer.
“He’s been top-class, brilliant.”
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