Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney are convinced the Manchester United supporters will have a huge say on Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool.
The clock is counting down towards the highly anticipated knockout match at Old Trafford and, as always, there is guaranteed to be a white-hot atmosphere with our historic rivals in town.
United are determined to go all the way in this season’s competition and the players will undoubtedly feed off the noise levels of our fans in M16.
Throughout Erik ten Hag’s reign alone, there have been many occasions when our supporters have directly influenced an Old Trafford win and last season’s Premier League victory over Liverpool is just one memorable example.
Club legends Ferdinand and Rooney believe the crowd will have a say this weekend, and particularly if the players can start on the front foot.
“The fans have a huge role to play,” Rio told us. “But also, at the same time, we always use to talk about it, ‘listen, make sure we get them on side in the first five minutes, the first time you go to close somebody down’. Wayne and Carlos Tevez, can you imagine them two, they were like caged animals sometimes before a game started. And then all of us were behind that.
“Then, these guys in the stadium, they can do nothing but scream and shout because they’re seeing what they’re seeing out there. That’s what I like to think was one of the best things about our team, that work ethic at the beginning to get everyone on side and then push us through.
“It gives you energy, energy, energy. You feel that you can go the extra yard, it gives you that energy to do something that you may not necessarily do another time.”
“It gives you energy, energy, energy. You feel that you can go the extra yard, it gives you that energy to do something that you may not necessarily do another time.”
Rio Ferdinand
Rooney agrees the team’s energy from the first whistle will be vital and not just on the ball, but also when pressing Liverpool and pushing them back – something he did so well as a Red.
“I think you as a team or a player can create that [energy],” he says. “Whether that is a centre-forward going to tackle a full-back, you can create that and the fans aren’t stupid. They see the players working hard and that’s what lifts the fans.
“Sometimes it is not all about entertaining football, it is about the fans seeing that you are willing to run and work hard for the team.”
“You as a team or a player can create that [energy]. Whether that is a centre-forward going to tackle a full-back, you can create that and the fans aren’t stupid. They see the players working hard and that’s what lifts the fans.”
Wayne Rooney
Rooney experienced so many unforgettable atmospheres during his iconic United career and right from the very start, for his legendary debut against Fenerbahce in the Champions League. But he points to another match in Europe when thinking about the standout occasion.
“Certainly the big games and the big games in Europe as well, you can feel it,” Wayne told us.
“There are certain games where the atmosphere and the fans, even though they might not think they make a difference, it makes a massive different.”
Wayne Rooney
“We were talking before actually about the AC Milan game, the Champions League semi-final when we won 3-2. That was a game where you could feel the fans pulling you towards the goal.
“And obviously we got a late winner! There are certain games where the atmosphere and the fans, even though they might not think they make a difference, it makes a massive difference.”
United v Liverpool kicks off at 15:30 GMT on Sunday.
