Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has launched a robust defence of Rio Ferdinand.
The Red Devils' centre-back came in for criticism from former England manager Graham Taylor at the weekend.
Taylor claimed Ferdinand's best years are behind him following a recent run of poor form. But Ferguson disagrees totally.
He said: "In my time here, we have always had one of our star players finding he gets criticised when he has a little blip.
"It seems to be part and parcel of being a player at Manchester United. We are all aware of that.
"No player likes to be criticised. We all like to be loved and want arms around our shoulders at times.
"But he will come out of it - there is no question about that.
"There is no discernible depreciation in his qualities - none at all."
calf injury
The solution, as far as Ferguson is concerned, is straightforward. As Ferdinand has stated himself, what he needs is a run of matches.
The problem is getting them. Ferdinand has already been ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League encounter with CSKA Moscow with a calf injury.
That places an element of doubt over his participation in Sunday's showdown with Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
"Playing with injury is not the easiest thing to do, and we are trying to get it right," said Ferguson.
"Calf injuries can be troublesome.
"If you don't arrest it and give it proper treatment then you can end up the way we are now, and playing in games when you are not 100 per cent fit.
"It is difficult to say about the weekend. He is doing some good work, and we hope we will see improvement in the two of them."
In turning the subject matter to a plural, Ferguson was also including Ferdinand's central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic who is also suffering from a calf problem.
true defender
Ferguson may well decide to stick with Jonny Evans who faced Chelsea twice last season without ending up on the losing side.
On Tuesday, Evans will partner Wes Brown - someone else who has been blighted by injury since the 2008 Champions League triumph in Moscow, when he occupied the right-back berth.
"The great thing for Wes Brown is that he has remained fit this year," said Ferguson.
"Last season, he had a terrible run of injuries. But the previous year, he made the most appearances and played in the final in Moscow.
"When he is fit and we bring him in there is no better defender in the country. He is a real true defender.
"I have no worries about Sunday in terms of Brown and Evans - absolutely no worries at all."
