TEAMtalk : Rio Ferdinand feels Manchester United’s vast experience will drag them through their Champions League nightmare, saying: “We’ll bounce back.”
United flew home on Thursday afternoon, still coming to terms with the shattering experience suffered in Switzerland, when a 2-1 defeat to Basle turfed them out at the group stage of European football’s most prestigious competition for the first time since 2005.
Rough estimates put the loss of income alone at £20million, although a small percentage of that could be made up if United were to progress to the latter stages of the Europa League.
For a club whose financial position has been the subject of intense debate down the years, that is a severe blow.
Yet in terms of prestige, the setback is even greater given Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, finalists three times in the past four seasons, are five points adrift of Manchester City in the Premier League race and also visit the Blues in the FA Cup next month having suffered a surprise Carling Cup reverse to Championship outfit Crystal Palace last week.
Ferdinand insists it is a time for cool heads.
As one of the survivors from 2005, the England defender knows exactly how much criticism will be unleashed on the Red Devils.
But he retains the utmost faith in the situation being turned around very quickly.