Post by Taxigirl on Mar 25, 2005 10:42:51 GMT
skysports.planetfootball.com
by Adam Marshall
Rio Ferdinand says England should put results above performances when Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan provide the opposition over the next week.
Sven Goran Eriksson's side play at Old Trafford on Saturday before heading up to Newcastle's St James' Park on Wednesday.
Ferdinand is confident England can secure the six points from the World Cup qualifiers that will cement their place at the top of Group Six.
"I'll be honest with you, I don't care if we play well or not, as long as we get the three points and win the game, I'm happy," said Ferdinand. "Because I want to go to the World Cup.
"I want to get there and perform on the biggest stage.
"Yeah, we like to play well, everyone wants to play well as a team, but, at the end of the day, the results get you to where you want to be and that's the main thing for us.
"Ask any supporter. Would they want the team to play well, draw or lose a few games and not qualify or would they rather play very average and get through?
"I think every supporter would say play average and win games and I'm the same.
"Performance, reluctantly, comes second."
The Manchester United centre back did not want to discuss the alleged incident at Manchester's Tiger Tiger involving pal Wayne Rooney.
"I'm not here to talk about things like that, that have gone on outside of football," he declared.
"If you go out on a Thursday before a game there's a direct problem because you don't give yourself time to recover at all, especially if you're drinking.
"If you go out the weekend before, or the Monday, or the Tuesday or even the Wednesday for a meal, it's not a problem, I don't think. Even the manager would say that, I think.
"A nightclub on a Thursday or even a Wednesday, I wouldn't do it myself. I don't think any players in the team would go out on Thursday to a club."
Ferdinand is not concerned about his defensive partner as he prepares to line up with Chelsea captain John Terry on Saturday.
"If that's the case [playing with Terry], it's always good to put on the England shirt no matter who you're playing alongside," he explained.
"John has done fantastically well but I'm not bothered about who I play alongside as long as we get a clean sheet and a win, I'll be happy.
"It's great to be back involved with the England set-up, it's a break from being with the club and a new environment. There's a good ambience with the squad at the moment.
"I'm looking forward to the two games, they're definitely two winnable games and we've got to put that into practice."
by Adam Marshall
Rio Ferdinand says England should put results above performances when Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan provide the opposition over the next week.
Sven Goran Eriksson's side play at Old Trafford on Saturday before heading up to Newcastle's St James' Park on Wednesday.
Ferdinand is confident England can secure the six points from the World Cup qualifiers that will cement their place at the top of Group Six.
"I'll be honest with you, I don't care if we play well or not, as long as we get the three points and win the game, I'm happy," said Ferdinand. "Because I want to go to the World Cup.
"I want to get there and perform on the biggest stage.
"Yeah, we like to play well, everyone wants to play well as a team, but, at the end of the day, the results get you to where you want to be and that's the main thing for us.
"Ask any supporter. Would they want the team to play well, draw or lose a few games and not qualify or would they rather play very average and get through?
"I think every supporter would say play average and win games and I'm the same.
"Performance, reluctantly, comes second."
The Manchester United centre back did not want to discuss the alleged incident at Manchester's Tiger Tiger involving pal Wayne Rooney.
"I'm not here to talk about things like that, that have gone on outside of football," he declared.
"If you go out on a Thursday before a game there's a direct problem because you don't give yourself time to recover at all, especially if you're drinking.
"If you go out the weekend before, or the Monday, or the Tuesday or even the Wednesday for a meal, it's not a problem, I don't think. Even the manager would say that, I think.
"A nightclub on a Thursday or even a Wednesday, I wouldn't do it myself. I don't think any players in the team would go out on Thursday to a club."
Ferdinand is not concerned about his defensive partner as he prepares to line up with Chelsea captain John Terry on Saturday.
"If that's the case [playing with Terry], it's always good to put on the England shirt no matter who you're playing alongside," he explained.
"John has done fantastically well but I'm not bothered about who I play alongside as long as we get a clean sheet and a win, I'll be happy.
"It's great to be back involved with the England set-up, it's a break from being with the club and a new environment. There's a good ambience with the squad at the moment.
"I'm looking forward to the two games, they're definitely two winnable games and we've got to put that into practice."