Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Rio Ferdinand will again be starting when his side meets Chelsea in the Champions League tomorrow night.
The United skipper returned to the starting line-up for the first time in about two months to help keep a clean sheet against the Blues in the 1-0 victory in the quarter-final first leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, displacing youngster Chris Smalling.
Ferguson then rested Ferdinand for the home win over Fulham on the weekend, bringing Smalling back in, but will go with the skipper for the return leg with Chelsea because of his experience and leadership.
"That was probably one of his best performances in a United jersey," said Ferguson. "It was magnificent.
"At his age [21], we don't expect Chris Smalling to be directing and shouting at players. Rio does that really well.
"He has composure on the ball. He didn't panic. He handled everything.
"I knew it would happen because all the incentives were there - adrenalin, coming back into the team, the importance of the occasion... It was ideal for Rio."
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