Rio Ferdinand formed part of a Man Utd side that saw the Premier League title cruelly snatched from their grasp, but he is trying to be positive.
Defender hoping Red Devils can bounce back in 2012/13
Rio Ferdinand formed part of a Manchester United side that saw the Premier League title cruelly snatched from their grasp on Sunday, but he is trying to be positive.
The Red Devils had one hand on the crown as their final day encounter with Sunderland came to an end, with it looking as though a 1-0 win on Wearside would be enough.
They were, however, always waiting on news from the Etihad Stadium, where arch-rivals Manchester City were playing host to Queens Park Rangers.
The most dramatic of finishes to that contest saw the trophy heading for the blue half of Manchester, with City netting twice in stoppage-time to leave United heartbroken.
Ferdinand admits a topsy-turvy season provided a painful ending for the Red Devils, but he is confident that a club steeped in success will bounce back stronger in 2012/13.
Cruel
He told
Sky Sports: "It's disappointing to lose the league. It's a cruel way to have lost it, but you have to congratulate the other team.
"Any team that wins the league obviously deserve it and have played well in the season. It's about us dusting ourselves down and making sure we win the title back next season."
Asked what it had been like at the centre of a sensational climax to the season, Ferdinand added: "I got the word in the game that City had scored and made it two each, then our game finished and it just went flat and silent. Everyone was just waiting. Then the cheers from the home supporters let us know that City had scored and the title had gone to them.
"I think this year we have had to use our squad to the maximum and that bodes well for the future. That's one positive we can take from this, I don't think there is another team that could have coped with things the way we have. It's no excuse. Congratulations to the other team."
