Rio Ferdinand is convinced Manchester United's vast experience will drag them through their Champions League nightmare.
United flew home on Thursday, still coming to terms with the shattering experience suffered in Switzerland, when a 2-1 defeat to FC Basel turfed them out at the group stage of European football's most prestigious competition for the first time since 2005.Rough estimates put the loss of income alone at £20 million, although a small percentage of that could be made up if United were to progress to the latter stages of the Europa League. Ferdinand, though, insists it is a time for cool heads.
"We are definitely good enough to bounce back," he said. "It is only a couple of weeks ago people were saying we were going to be champions and we were going to do this and that. It doesn't change after one night in Europe.
"We have a lot of players here with valuable experience. That will come into play now. I have no worries or qualms about this weekend coming. We will be up for it.
"You don't want to experience this type of feeling often. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. The young players in the squad who haven't been here long know what that is like now."
And Ferdinand concurred with team-mate Patrice Evra about the low Champions League elimination has brought, although he denied completely any suggestion United may have been complacent about the task they faced in gaining a single point at St-Jakob Park.
"There was no complacency," he said. "That is way off the mark. The manager wouldn't stand for complacency at this club.
"But it is embarrassing to go out at this stage and any player with pride in his performance and in his job doesn't want to feel that. We don't like this. We will try and rectify it."
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