Rooney - Rio best in the world

Title defence is built on solid foundations

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 19th December 2007

Rooney - Rio best in the world

Vidic & Ferdinand: Hard to beat

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Wayne Rooney believes that his Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand is the best defender in the world.

The England striker feels that the club are well on course to retain their Premier League title, and that his international colleague is one of the main reasons for that.

The 1-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday means that United currently sit just one point behind leaders Arsenal, and have opened up a five-point gap over third-placed Chelsea.

Ferdinand was a commanding figure throughout the Anfield encounter, and Rooney has nothing but praise for the way all the defenders coped in such a pressurised situation.

Big result

"There's great rivalry between United and Liverpool, so it was a big result for us, especially with how tight the league is," Rooney told MUTV.

"We knew that if we got three points then it would put a bit of space between us and Liverpool. A draw would perhaps have been a fair result, but we defended really well and managed to get the goal.

"Vida (Vidic) and Rio were brilliant for us.

"I think Rio is probably the best defender in the world at the moment. He's been doing really well for us. The whole defence and the whole team is defending well."

Ji-Sung Park

One player who is hoping to be a part of United's title bid is Ji-Sung Park, who saw his return from injury postponed on Wednesday due to a frozen pitch.

The South Korean international has been out with a cruciate knee ligament injury since March and was due to play for the reserves against Oldham before the weather intervened.

Park will now spend his time building up his fitness during regular training sessions, and despite the setback, Sir Alex Ferguson has suggested that he may play some part over the Christmas period.