"There's got to be humility" - Ferdinand tells Lionel Messi to replicate Wayne Rooney's Cristiano Ronaldo sacrifice
Rio Ferdinand has advised Lionel Messi to replicate the sort of sacrifice Wayne Rooney used to make for Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United.
Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe form a star studded front 3 for PSG. They have not yet clicked together completely, although there were signs of it last night in PSG's UEFA Champions League win against Manchester City.
Speaking to BT Sport (via the Daily Mirror), Rio Ferdinand said Messi might have to take a leaf from Wayne Rooney's book. The England international sometimes moved to the left wing to accommodate Cristiano Ronaldo and Ferdinand, referencing the incident, said:
"There’s got to be humility. I can liken it to someone like Wayne Rooney.
"Wayne Rooney was superstar, world-class talent, he was willing to sacrifice being a number nine to go left wing for Cristiano Ronaldo at times."
"In the Champions League final he went left-wing to track back. When you’ve got players like that you’ll be successful, you’ll win big tournaments, big trophies."
Owen Hargreaves, who was also present in the studio, said that the PSG front 3 of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Mbappe will need a highly defensive-minded midfield to track back:
"You think about that United team, you had Wayne Rooney top of the pitch and Carlos Tevez and Ronaldo sometimes played off the left, certain games Ronaldo would go to the top.
"Those two played like defensive players, they pressed the ball, none of these three [Messi, Mbappe, Neymar] want to track back so it would be curious to see who comes back.
"Someone is going to have to track back in the game and that’s why I think he’s playing three defensive midfield players in Herrera, Gueye and Veratti.
"I think the three are going to stay up and the rest of the team is going to have to work to get it back for them."
There were signs of PSG's front 3 combining well together last night with Kylian Mbappe assisting Lionel Messi's wonderful goal against Manchester City.
Messi’s first for PSG was his 27th goal against Premier League opposition in his 31st appearance. All in the Champions League and all against the so called big six…and some say he couldn’t do it here. 🤣🤣🤣
All 3 of PSG's attacking players are genuine superstars and it will be interesting to see how the dynamic develops as the season progresses.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping to inspire their teams to Champions League glory this season
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have failed to surmount a serious challenge for the UEFA Champions League title in the last few seasons at Juventus and Barcelona respectively.
"There's got to be humility."
"Wayne Rooney was a superstar, world-class talent, he was willing to sacrifice being a number nine, to play left-wing for Cristiano Ronaldo."
@rioferdy5 on the key to getting PSG's front three on the same page.
#UCL https://t.co/GUpPad9OJv
With both of them moving to new clubs, the legendary duo will be hoping to go all the way in Europe's premier competition. PSG secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Manchester City last night.
It is now up to Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United to recover from their loss against Young Boys and put up an impressive performance against Villarreal.
Also read: 5 footballing personalities who refused to choose between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi