Rio Happy With Vidic

Rio Ferdinand says his partnership with Manchester United defensive teammate Nemanja Vidic is the best he's ever been involved in.

"I think it is the most comfortable partnership I have ever had," said Ferdinand. "It is the most consistent and most productive. We have been playing week in week out for the last 18 months and I have never really had that long before with the same person.

"At Leeds it was Dominic Matteo for a while and then Jonathan Woodgate. I had a few partners at West Ham too. I have never had that longevity that enables you to get to know someone's game and he can get to know mine. Playing regularly means you get to know each other and their qualities.

"I said when I signed for United in 2003 that I hoped I would have a consistent partner. But I didn't have one in the first two or three years here." Instead Ferdinand had on and off working relationships with Laurent Blanc, Mikael Silvestre, Wes Brown and John O'Shea.

"I always said once you get a settled partnership at centre half and the same back four you would see the rewards of that," said Ferdinand. "I think we are bearing the fruits of that."