Rio Ferdinand revealed yesterday that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson read his players the riot act after their home defeat to Inter Milan this week.

Ferdinand said: "Playing against someone like Inter raises questions that clearly needed to be answered. Those have been addressed and it will show by the time we play Chelsea.

"The Inter game was a match we needed. We'd been on tour in Asia playing against teams who weren't really anywhere near the standard of Inter or teams we are going to face in the Premiership.

"Against Inter, we didn't defend well at all. We probably learned a lot more in that one game than we did on the whole tour of the Far East.

"I don't know if the manager was talking about individuals when he criticised our display, it was more that as a team we didn't defend well. But he was right to say it.' Ferdinand will be part of a strong team lining up against double domestic cup-winners Chelsea as both sides look to avoid an early defeat against their arch-rivals.

Having lost to Jose Mourinho's team in the FA Cup Final last May, United will be keen to make amends and Ferdinand revealed that there is a huge desire to win within the dressing-room.

He said: "It's more about preparation for us than anything else, but any game you want to win, whether it's a friendly or anything else.

"If it's the Charity Shield or a game in the league, your natural reaction as a player is to win. The most important thing is getting through it unscathed and getting another 90 minutes under our belts.

"The one we are looking ahead to is Reading on the opening weekend. We have got to make sure we are ready for that and focused by the time that game comes around. With Inter on Wednesday and then this weekend, we'll have had a few tough games on the bounce and we should then be ready for the week after."

Ferdinand was speaking at the finals of the Premier Cup, a Nike-sponsored tournament for some of the world's best young players.