Rio: "Failure criminal"
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ByEurosport
Published 05/12/2006 at 17:47 GMT
Rio Ferdinand admits that Manchester United's failure to secure progression from their Champions League group before the final game "grates" in the dressing room. United go in to their final group fixture against Benfica on Wednesday knowing that defeat w
FOOTBALL 2006-2007 Premiership Manchester United-Liverpool Patrice Evra Rio Ferdinand Ryan Giggs
Image credit: Reuters
Last year, Benfica came from a goal behind to beat United at the Stadio da Luz to dump the Reds out of the competition - without even the consolation of a UEFA Cup place.
"It does grate with us that we have had to come down to this," Ferdinand said.
"Hopefully this game will see us sign it off finally. But we have made it difficult for ourselves. It would be criminal to throw this chance away now."
Despite United facing another £30million make-or-break mission on Wednesday, Ferdinand insists the squad are not nervous.
"The situation doesn't breed nervousness in our dressing room. This squad doesn't get nervous," the defender added.
"We thrive on situations now when the pressure is really up there and full on. The big games when people are asking questions about us or think we won't do well we seem to come through it. This is an opportunity to do that again.
"The mentality of the players is now a bit more resolute than it has been in the last couple of years. We can deal with this kind of situation now."
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