FORMER Manchester United and England star Rio Ferdinand is counting down the hours to the restart of the Premier League.
Here, Ferdinand tells Sun Head of Sport Shaun Custis about the need to get football going again, how he expects Manchester United to make the top four, his fears for international football and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Q: HOW MUCH ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO FOOTBALL RETURNING?
It might be obvious — but I’ve missed the game like you wouldn’t believe.
I am someone who needs to have football in my life and it’s not easy being without it.
It will be great to be able to talk about what’s happening during the 90 minutes, instead of if we’ll actually get back out on the pitch again.
Having more time with the family has been nice, I’ve enjoyed that, and I’ve been doing a lot of the cooking.
As for home-schooling, though, I’ve mostly left that to my wife Kate — she’s the teacher!
Q: DID YOU FEAR THE SEASON WOULDN’T BE COMPLETED?
I did. There was a point where I couldn’t see how we were ever going to get going again.
The world had bigger things to worry about and the fate of the title, the European qualifying places and relegation didn’t seem very important.
I thought the season would be null and void but the fact we are ready to go again is testament to the players, the clubs and the owners.
Q: ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THE RESTART WILL BE A SUCCESS AND THE SEASON WILL GET FINISHED?
I am now. Germany have shown the way — and they have organised it all very well.
It’s also been interesting to see that the likes of Bayern Munich have been able to push on for yet another title and didn’t suffer any surprise hiccups after so long away.
Strikers like Robert Lewandowski just got straight back into it and started scoring again.
Erling Haaland continued to prove what a top-class young player he is for Borussia Dortmund.
As Haaland showed when he got injured, there will probably be more injuries than usual because of the long lay-off and few warm-up friendlies — but that is an occupational hazard.
It won’t be easy for players to get straight into a routine of two or three matches a week.
The players have been keeping fit but there is a big difference to being match-fit.
You can go for as many runs as you like and go hundreds of miles on treadmills — but you cannot replicate the twisting and turning and the stop-start nature of the game.
I was never very good at getting back into a high-pressure clash after a long lay-off, I know how difficult it is, yet you have to get on with it.
There mustn’t be any whingeing and moaning. Everyone should just be happy we’re playing again.
Q: SO YOU EXPECT LIVERPOOL TO WRAP THE TITLE UP QUICKLY?
Yes and they deserve to. They were the team to beat, nobody could touch them and they will come back from where they left off.
I’ve talked to Jordan Henderson over the lockdown and he is bang up for the restart, as are his team-mates.
I don’t think there’ll be any worries on their part that they won’t be back up to speed very quickly.
You don’t have to be a Liverpool fan to appreciate how good a side they are, even if it hurts Man Utd men like me.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR MAN UTD?
I reckon they should make the top four — with that squad they ought to.
Paul Pogba is fit again, as is Marcus Rashford, there is talk Pogba is looking really good in training.
He and Bruno Fernandes can form a productive midfield partnership in a three with someone like Scott McTominay.
Don’t forget United were on a good streak when the season was halted — and had just beaten Manchester City not long after winning at Chelsea.
They haven’t lost in about ten games and signs of Ole’s good management are coming to fruition now. I’ve never lost faith in Ole despite all the criticism he was getting.
I believe in him and if he makes that top four he’ll have done a good job. He also still has the Europa League to aim for if we can get that going again.
Q: WHAT ABOUT ENGLAND?
IS INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL REALLY GOING TO SUFFER?
I do worry about the future of internationals.
I loved playing for my country but we have to accept that there are going to be a lot of fixtures being squeezed into a shorter period.
They’ll have to play them somehow because there are Euro and World Cup qualifiers but players are bound to drop out through injury and the quality might not be the same.
England will be taking second place to the Premier League, that’s a fact of life.
Q: HOW INSPIRED ARE YOU BY THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT?
It’s huge isn’t it? And the players are really getting behind it.
It’s a no-brainer that this had to happen and football can play a big part in making sure there is lasting change in our society — but more can be done.
This is just the beginning. Education will be the key to any strides made going forward.
*Check out Rio’s YouTube series The Locker Room — episode out at noon on Saturday…
