Ferdinand has been complaining to the Sun about the agony of
his recent, ahem, kidney infection:
“I was in so much pain. I would not wish it on anybody. It
was quite scary. I couldn’t sleep properly and when you
don’t know what it is you are obviously concerned. It was
like severe backache and for three days I could barely walk
because of the pain.
“I had never had to spend a night in the hospital before.
But I was in there for two days while various tests were
done. The doctors think it was a virus but I’m still waiting
to get some of the results.
“Thankfully I’m feeling great now and enjoying my football
again.”
Rio also told the Super Soar Away paper that he is ‘up for
it’ this weekend:
“It’s always worth a little bit extra if you can beat your
main rivals. Arsenal will be up for this on Sunday — but so
will we. I know from my own experience that when you have
been beaten you cannot wait to get out there and put it
right.
“You want to play again the next day and you are desperate
to get out on that pitch and get rid of those bad memories.
Confidence can be there one minute, gone the next. But we
know it will quickly return to Arsenal if they were to beat
us. One result can turn it around.
“We cannot let that happen. Our results against them last
season played a big part in us winning the league. I
wouldn’t say they were the defining moments because there
are three points on offer whoever you play.”