England women have got themselves off to a strong start at this summer's UEFA Women's Euro 2022, beating Austria in the opening match. A Beth Mead goal in the 16th minute was enough for Sarina Wiegman's side to secure victory in front of a record crowd at Old Trafford.
One player who is no stranger to success on that stage is former Manchester United and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand, who has backed England to succeed should they follow the methods of his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, as well as current England men's manager Gareth Southgate.
He said that dealing with pressure from the press would be a key factor in the Lionesses securing a win at home this summer, especially with more media coverage than ever before for a home tournament. Ferdinand, capped 81 times by his country, explained his thoughts in an interview with William Hill .
READ MORE: 'I never even imagined it' - Fran Kirby on England's record-breaking night at Women's Euro 2022
“You need that calmness, you need to be able to deal with the press, it’s important nowadays, more than ever.” Ferdinand said. “I was involved with squads and managers who found the press hard to deal with and made them a big thing, so having them on board is a big play.”
He added: “I think Gareth [Southgate] showed a great example of bringing them [the media] in and embracing them. He knows the power the media can have in swaying many decisions or mindsets, so it’s very important to have them on side.”
Ferdinand worked under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, winning six Premier League titles during their time together. He also explained how he hoped to see a similar relationship develop between Wiegman and her players as he enjoyed with the Scottish manager.
“Within the England squad and the dynamic between Sarina Wiegman and her players, you need that steely confidence but also that warmth when needed. With Sir Alex Ferguson, he was so personable with people. He knew my Grandad’s favourite drinks and mad little details like that. It’s that care and attention to detail, not just about the player but about their welfare beyond the pitch as well. Those details are what make you go the extra mile for that person and find that little bit extra out of the tank in times of need.
“It’s no coincidence that our teams scored late goals a lot of the time and those little things that he did definitely contributed to that.”
