PHIL TEARING HIMSELF APART

Last updated : 31 May 2004 By editor

"We've not admitted it until now but Rio's absence hit us more than we thought, it was similar to when Eric Cantona got suspended and we lost the league. People thought it wouldn't affect us but it's only after the season you realise how much you miss a player. If we'd had Rio we'd have been a lot closer to the title than we were and with Rio in defence we'd have a much better chance of winning the European Championships - that's how good a player he is."

"It's surprised people outside the club how good he is. But if you take him out of the team, it diminishes. A coach said to me ages ago, when you've finished playing you become a better player in people's eyes. And that's what's happened with Rio - people are now realising how good he is."