• Premier League

Ferdinand 'embarrassed' by United's shambolic season

Rio Ferdinand was restored to Manchester United's starting line-up for the victory against Norwich © Getty Images

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Rio Ferdinand has been left embarrassed by Manchester United's disastrous season and admitted he cannot bring himself to look at the league table.

United lost patience in former manager David Moyes and sacked him last Tuesday. Ryan Giggs took over as interim boss, but United are still on course to post their lowest-ever Premier League points tally and will miss out on Champions League football for the first time in 19 years.

"I've not looked at the league table for flipping ages," Ferdinand said. "We were saying it before the [Norwich] game. It's because you don't want to. It's embarrassing. You don't want to look at the league table and see where we are, but that's down to us as players. We take responsibility for that.

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Ryan Giggs watches his side from the touchline © PA Photos

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"We have to keep our heads down, work hard and try to end the season on a high. It has certainly been the most disappointing season of my career."

Ferdinand has endured a difficult campaign under Moyes, starting only nine league games. Giggs restored the defender to United's starting line-up for their 4-0 victory against Norwich on Saturday and Ferdinand re-confirmed that he wants to stay at Old Trafford next season.

"I'm going to continue playing,' Ferdinand said. "Whether it's here, I don't know. But I hope so."

After leaving the club, Moyes took a swipe at his squad - none of whom made it into the Premier League's Team of the Year - but Ferdinand insisted United's improved showing for Giggs' first game in charge was no reflection on their former manager.

"It is always natural when you change a coaching team, that the intensity goes up because everyone wants to impress and everyone wants to play the first game under the new manager," Ferdinand said.

"They see it as a new chance, a new opportunity, and that's no different to what I have seen over the years with different teams, including England. It is no different this time around."

Ferdinand insisted he was unable to pinpoint why United had previously struggled so much this season. "If we knew why, then I'm sure the change of manager wouldn't have happened," he said.

Following Moyes' dismissal, Louis van Gaal is favourite to be named next United boss but Ferdinand claimed the ethos of the club will not change - no matter who is in charge next season.

"When you have been successful, you don't want to look at a negative perspective or viewpoint, you always look around and think 'what can we win, what do we want to win?'," Ferdinand said.

"That will be no different next season. I am sure that whoever is here, whoever is managing, the aim of this club is win trophies and championships and we have done that for 25 years. Long may that continue."

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