UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manchester United are still not sure whether centre-back Rio Ferdinand will be able to play again this season, manager Alex Ferguson says

Record ID: 755680

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manchester United are still not sure whether centre-back Rio Ferdinand will be able to play again this season, manager Alex Ferguson says
  • Date: 18th March 2011
  • Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (FILE, JANUARY 28, 2010) (REUTERS) ANDRES INIESTA, XAVI HERNANDEZ AND OTHER BARCELONA PLAYERS IN KICKABOUT
  • Embargoed: 2nd April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom, United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA9WO6XU13RALL5TQ51PDSZ4ZIV
  • Story Text: Manchester United are still not sure whether centre-back Rio Ferdinand will be able to play again this season, manager Alex Ferguson said on Thursday (March 17).
    "My concern is getting Rio back for some part of this season and hopefully we can do that," Ferguson told a news conference.
    England captain Ferdinand suffered a calf injury in the warm-up before United's 2-1 league defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Feb. 5.
    Central defender Nemanja Vidic will also miss the English Premier League game on Saturday (March 19) against Bolton Wanderers along with John O'Shea and Rafael da Silva, who both suffered hamstring injuries during Tuesday's Champions League win over Olympique Marseille.
    Defender Jonny Evans has returned to training but Ferguson is again likely to play Chris Smalling and Wes Brown in central defence against Bolton.
    "Hopefully John Evans may be fit. It is a bit of risk. He trained all week which is good but he has been out for such a long time, Ferguson said.
    United's boss was however encouraged for the return of midfielder Ecuatorian midfielder Antonio Valencia and with the good form of Portuguese winger Nani.
    "Hopefully this is a bad spell," Ferguson said. "Apart from it, apart from this bad spell I've had, we have been ok with the defensive part of the season but it has all fallen apart in the last week or so and all the defenders getting the injuries they've got."
    United are clinging on to a three-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, having played a game more, and they are through to the Champions League quarter-finals and FA Cup semi-finals.
    Ferguson said Bolton was a team with ambitions as they were facing Stoke City in the English FA Cup semfinal and in seventh place in the Premier League.
    "Well, as I say, they have certainly improved. They are challenging for an European place and they are in the semifinal of the FA Cup. They are coming with a good degree of confidence," Ferguson said adding he was aware of the goal threats posed by Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies.
    Ferguson was also asked about who United fancied as opponents on the eve of the draw for the Champions League quarter-finals due to take place on Friday (March 18) .
    He rated Barcelona as strong contenders for this year's title but said the Catalans should not be overestimated.
    "I don't think is is a good tactics to rate how good they are and show a trepidation about it, an apprehension about it. I don't think this is our way. I think you have to face whatever comes along," he said.
    Ferguson reminded Barcelona still feature most of the players who were beaten by United in the semifinals of Champions League in 2008, when they last won the European Cup. Midfielder Xavi Hernandez shares the record of 549 appearances for the club.
    "The same midfield players, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Alves. They whole play, every week, it is fantastic," Ferguson said.
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