Rio: 'Man United are up for the FA Cup'

Updated 10.38 Fri May 18 2007

Keywords: Joe Cole, Manchester United, Chelsea, Premiership, Champions League, FA Cup, Wembley, football, sport

Rio Ferdinand has rubbished talk that the 2007 FA Cup Final means more to Chelsea now that Manchester United have won back the Premiership title.

The world's most expensive defender is desperate to help Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils win at Wembley having previously suffered final disappointment.

"I have had disappointments in the FA Cup before so I would like to taste a bit of victory this time" - Rio Ferdinand

He was a frustrated spectator as United beat Millwall 3-0 in 2004, a legacy of his eight-month ban for a missed drugs test, and was left in tears 12 months later as Arsenal beat United in a penalty shoot-out.

Ferdinand is keen to help United seal an historic fourth FA Cup and league Double: "We will see whether Chelsea are more hungry on Saturday. You can't say someone has more incentive than someone else to win a trophy like this.

"When you look back on your career you want to count medals. This is a great opportunity for us to get one and we won't be slacking on any front.

"I have had disappointments in the FA Cup before so I would like to taste a bit of victory this time. I don't want to be travelling home with a load of ifs and buts in my mind. I have some bad memories to erase and I want to do that on Saturday."

Manchester United are without captain Gary Neville as well as striker Louis Saha for the Cup Final meaning that Ryan Giggs will lead the side out for the first time in a major final.

And apart from deciding whether Patrice Evra or Gabriel Heinze should play at left-back, Ferguson's other major selection poser comes at right-back, where Wes Brown is expected to edge out John O'Shea.

He must also finalise the tactical formation of his team, which will determine whether Darren Fletcher or Alan Smith are handed starts.