We're behind you Rio

Many suggestions about what to do with United ace Rio Ferdinand have floated around the public and the papers. My answer to those people is, you don't need to do anything with Rio Ferdinand. Keep him in the team, and his form will come. I'm pleased that Lampard and Capello agree with me, because if England are thinking of winning the World Cup next year, they need two world-class centre-backs. Upson, Lescott and maybe Phil Jagielka are simply not world-class. None of them have the experience of international level football as Ferdinand, in addition to the class and ability. I'm sorry to fans of those three players, but he's quick, strong and reads the game tremendously well. What more do you want? Everybody goes through bad patches, and this happens to be Ferdinands first proper dip in form for England. That shows his true class, and I sincerly hope for England that he's in good form by the summer, because they need him. I think it's silly that people are criticising him, he's won so many collective honours for Manchester United and is so consistent for his country. I am willing to say here and now he's in the top five centre backs in the world. You need a centre-half to be able to deal with the strength of Drogba and skill of Ronaldo. He's one of the only defenders capable of doing that.