Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has saluted captain Rio Ferdinand for his return to competitive football during the week. The centre-back played a full 90 minutes of the 1-0 win over Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night after being sidelined for nine weeks with a calf injury and his showing was not lost on Ferguson.
The Scottish tactician admitted it was tough to drop the promising Chris Smalling but said his decision was vindicated by the performance of Ferdinand.
"It was a terrible for me to explain to Chris Smalling that he wasn't playing given the way he has performed for us this season," said Ferguson.
"He understood. He is part of the squad and he won't be forgotten.
"But it's Rio's experience isn't it. He has such composure. He talks to players.
"When Antonio Valencia went to full-back he was talking all the time. He was phenomenal."
Ferguson added that he was expecting Ferdinand to come off for a rest and was surprised that the former England skipper got through the entire match.
"I was waiting for the moment where he might tire a little bit but there was no sign of it," he added.
"He had done 10 days' physical work before he started football training.
"People might think it was a gamble. My only gamble was if he wasn't really up for it. Whether we had to talk him into it.
"That wasn't the case. He came to me. He said I am ready. It was great news."
