Rio Ferdinand picks his combined all-time Man Utd and City XI with Roy Keane snubbed and Rooney in unusual role
RIO FERDINAND included himself in a combined Manchester United and City XI.
Ahead of tomorrow’s derby, the 45-year-old was asked to create a dream team from players that have featured in the fixture since 2000.
Starting between the sticks, Ferdinand opted for Edwin van der Sar over David De Gea.
Explaining his decision, he told the FIVE podcast: “De Gea, I think, probably had more outstanding moments than Van der Sar, but he was just that calming influence.
“He was one of the first goalkeepers from that generation to be great with his feet as well. So, I just think as a package, I take him.”
At right-back, Gary Neville was snubbed for Kyle Walker, who was called the “best in Premier League history”, and Patrice Evra was on the other flank.
Vincent Kompany, John Stones and Ruben Dias were all options at centre-back for Ferdinand.
However, he went with a Man Utd pairing of himself and Nemanja Vidic.
On the himself, Ferdinand explained: “I am super confident in what I was, looking at defenders today, put my clips on against any of these guys.
“That’s just how I feel and that’s how I was able to play at my level.
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“I couldn’t go ‘he’s better than me’.
I’d go into a game and look across the line and think: ‘I’m better than all of them.’
“And I still feel like that now, I don’t know why I can’t lose it.”
In midfield, legendary United captain Roy Keane had his spot taken by Man City star Rodri.
Ferdinand explained: “Rodri, what he’s doing right now, he’s the best defensive midfielder on the planet.
“Clutch goals. He’s nasty. He controls tempo. In terms of influence on the team, I can’t go too far away from that.”
“When he doesn’t play, City lose. Facts. He’s the only player in their team that the level of the team drops down whenever he’s out of the team – dramatically.”
Kevin De Bruyne and Paul Scholes were chosen to join Rodri in the three-man midfield.
The six-time Premier League champion was desperate to put Wayne Rooney in the XI and shoehorned him in at right-wing to allow for Cristiano Ronaldo play off the left.
Sergio Aguero earned the No9 shirt as was one of the “hardest” Ferdinand ever played against.