Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has spoken of an extraordinary week at the club.

He reflected on a whirlwind week for the Reds - beginning with the moment when Sir Alex Ferguson informed the players of his impending retirement.

"We came in and there was a notice on the board to say there was a meeting," Ferdinand revealed to MUTV. "There were rumours in the paper that the manager was going to leave but we were thinking: 'There's no chance he'll be leaving. There are too many good things going on at the club because of the squad he's building'.

"Then he broke the news and the most I remember from it was that it was dead quiet in the room. Even when he left, there was real silence and I think that's just a combination of disappointment and respect as well for the manager's decision. For what he's done for the club, for us as individuals and as a team, you've got to respect his decision. He's been in the game for a long time, he knows what he's doing and I think he deserves a rest."