LONDON (AFP) - Rio Ferdinand backed Wayne Rooney to rise to the occasion after a difficult year as Manchester United prepared to face Barcelona in Saturday's Champions League final at Wembley.
Rooney has endured a torrid 12 months since he flopped for England at last year's World Cup in South Africa, dogged by a prolonged loss of form as well as lurid
tabloid revelations about his private life.
The 25-year-old striker has also had to win back United's fans after handing in a transfer request last season before eventually signing a vastly improved new contract that has made him the club's highest earner.
Ferdinand is confident however that Rooney can draw a line under his season of torment by shining on the big stage on Saturday.
"Regardless of what happened last summer, and regardless of what happens tomorrow night—whenever we've needed Wayne to stand up and be counted he's always been there for us," Ferdinand told reporters.
"If you talk about big occasions, you can look at the Manchester City game this season. He scored one of the best goals you'll probably see at Old Trafford," Ferdinand added, referring to Rooney's spectacular overhead kick.
"I don't need to go through the different times and occasions when he's done that for us."
However Ferdinand warned that United were more than a one-man band.
"We've got 100 percent belief in all of our players, not just Wayne," Ferdinand said.
"But it's not going to be one player to make sure we get over the line. It's going to need all of us to focus and concentrate and make sure we do what the management want us to do."
Rooney has endured a torrid 12 months since he flopped for England at last year's World Cup in South Africa, dogged by a prolonged loss of form as well as lurid
tabloid revelations about his private life.
The 25-year-old striker has also had to win back United's fans after handing in a transfer request last season before eventually signing a vastly improved new contract that has made him the club's highest earner.
Ferdinand is confident however that Rooney can draw a line under his season of torment by shining on the big stage on Saturday.
"Regardless of what happened last summer, and regardless of what happens tomorrow night—whenever we've needed Wayne to stand up and be counted he's always been there for us," Ferdinand told reporters.
"If you talk about big occasions, you can look at the Manchester City game this season. He scored one of the best goals you'll probably see at Old Trafford," Ferdinand added, referring to Rooney's spectacular overhead kick.
"I don't need to go through the different times and occasions when he's done that for us."
However Ferdinand warned that United were more than a one-man band.
"We've got 100 percent belief in all of our players, not just Wayne," Ferdinand said.
"But it's not going to be one player to make sure we get over the line. It's going to need all of us to focus and concentrate and make sure we do what the management want us to do."
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