The centre-back is ensuring the tie is hotting up.
After both securing opening day wins in the Premier League, Manchester United and Chelsea are now preparing to face each other next Sunday.
United ace Rio Ferdinand is already looking forward to the clash and has responded to comments from Blues boss Jose Mourinho that the club weren’t terrific champions last season.
“That was his first soundbite of the season, wasn’t it? I think we expected it,” the 34-year-old was quoted in the Mirror.
“I’m looking forward to Chelsea. We are really looking forward to it. Now we can start playing for something.
“We are professional people and want to win. You don’t appreciate it when people don’t put you in the position you should be.
“Being champions you warrant maybe a little bit more but every next person is tipping someone else to win the league and putting us in third or fourth place.”
Mourinho’s men could already hold an advantage over the Red Devils by the time the sides meet at Old Trafford, with the west London club playing a midweek match at home to Aston Villa.
Yet United have silenced a certain amount of their critics, with many suggesting David Moyes wouldn’t be able to cope after succeeding the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.
However, under the Scot the English champions overcame a potentially tricky away tie at Swansea City on Saturday and cruised to a 4-1 victory.
Playing Chelsea will be a whole different matter though and whoever triumphs in the tie will have a significant psychological advantage over the other rival.
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