SOUNDBITES

Last updated : 26 September 2004 By editor

Wes Brown is glad to have Rio back in action,

"We all know Rio is a fantastic player. It was no surprise to me he slotted in so well against Liverpool because he has looked so sharp in training. He still needs games but Rio is one of those players who can come back in and it feels like he has been there all the time.

"We have so much confidence in him. He has a presence and exudes calmness. You know he will do the job for you and that sorts everyone else out as well. It is very important to get a settled defence."

"Communication and understanding is vital and there have been so many changes this year it is bound to have an effect. Thankfully everyone is starting to get fit now and once the manager is able to stick with a settled defence again, I'm sure the team performances will improve."

Wes also had praise for Ronaldo, "When you are at full-back, you are supposed to get forward a bit more to help the wide player - but Cristiano doesn't seem to need any help.

"I just try and support him really. If he wants to give me the ball he can but he can go past two or three players on his own, so he doesn't often need me."


Fergie once again heaps praise onto Rio:


"I expected Rio to do well when he came back against Liverpool, but what I didn't expect was the transformation of the rest of the team, particularly Mikael Silvestre. Mikael has played with a succession of centre backs this season and it was almost like walking into another room for him on Monday.

"His confidence was back, his determination, he was quick to everything and I think he did really well. That was down to Rio. His partnership with Silvestre last season, before the suspension, was the best in the country. It was excellent. Rio gives the team that air of confidence and his composure transmits itself well. He has that air of confidence about him in that he never seems to be in a panic. Even when he makes a mistake he looks good.

"I also thought Roy Keane had his best game of the season last Monday. He played with great intelligence and I know that Rio, Mikael and Ronaldo were candidates for Man of the Match, but for me Keane was fantastic. Rio probably have helped that too because I am sure it did transmit itself right through the team.”

Fergie seems to feel that the worst is behind us and that we can now begin to make up the seven point gap between us and Arsenal,


"It is a very different feeling to a couple of weeks ago, but it shows that you have to be patient in life. It is never going to be 100% for you all the time. You know that in football you get injuries and that is unavoidable, but you just hope they don't come in big bunches like they have done for us this season. Now we have got them all back, the job for us is to make sure we don't have anybody going back to the treatment table


"I am not too worried about it. The way we think is the best to handle it, is to take our time and keep eating into the league leaders lead. That could take a long time. It could be March or April. We might not even make it, who knows? What we do know is we can't get the seven points back by next Sunday, we just have to take our time."


Rio:


"When I was watching matches during my ban I was thinking about every little detail and working out where I could get better. I want to get every ounce of potential I have in me on the pitch week in, week out. As long as I can finish my career knowing I have pushed myself to get every bit of potential then I will be happy.

"The challenge I have ahead is probably the biggest I have ever faced. The challenge is to get back to get to the level of consistency I had before and hopefully get even better.

"But it would be naive to say I could achieve that straight away, even though that's what I want to happen. Hopefully I can play tip-top in every game but I am not foolish enough to expect that after the situation I have been in.


"I want it to come as quickly as possible and if it is the next few weeks I will be delighted but I really don't know where I am going to be at a certain time.


"I look upon Manchester United as being the best club in the world, so to say it was me who cost us the title is discrediting to the other players. But what happened has definitely given me a closer bond with United.


"You realise the magnitude of the club and how much heartfelt support there is when situations like last season happen."