Fergie backs down in row with Ferdinand…but is Rio not happy

Alex Ferguson has backed down in his row with Rio Ferdinand, but the centre-half does not appear to be happy with his manager.

By Declan Whooley

Ferdinand’s refusal to wear the ‘Kick It Out’ anti-racism t-shirt prior to the Stoke game on Saturday had Fergie fuming in his post-match interview, saying that the centre-half had ‘embarrassed’ him and ‘let down’ everyone in the club.

The manager suggested the hair-dryer treatment was on the cards, but in yesterday’s press conference ahead of the Champions League encounter with Braga tonight, the Scot claimed the issue was now resolved.

“I think he (Ferdinand) felt I should have spoken with him on Friday. I think there was a communication issue,” Ferguson claimed.

“But we have resolved the problem, we move on and that’s the end of the matter,” he added.

It is a highly unusual turnaround from a man who is not known for backing down in any argument.

While all the national papers suggest the issue is dealt with, Ferdinand has taken to Twitter this morning to suggest that not everything is rosy in the garden.

This one may rumble on a little longer.