Charlie Adam in diving denial against Manchester United
Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has denied diving in the Anfield side’s recent match against Manchester United where contact was made between the Scotland international and United’s Rio Ferdinand.
Many felt that Adam has gone down too easily after the challenge which saw Sir Alex Ferguson’s side leave Anfield with a point. Steven Gerrard had at first put Liverpool ahead with a free kick, a goal where Ferguson actually blamed Ryan Giggs for leaving his position within the wall that had been set up. With nine minutes remaining however, Javier Hernandez was able to put the visitors back on par after he finished one of just three chances the United side had.
Adam though is adamant that he did not dive and claims that had Ferdinand not fouled him, he would have been in on goal with just David De Gea to beat.
“I felt a touch and if I hadn’t gone down I would have been clear through on goal so there must have been contact, that’s the way I look at it. I felt contact when I went past Rio and that’s the way it goes. I’m not just going to go down easily. I’m not that type of player. It was a foul and that is why the referee gave it.”
Meanwhile Rio Ferdinand has hit out at critics who have suggested his time as a World class defender have come to an end but claims he is a long way off retiring and still have that urgent appeal to win anything possible, even in training.
“I have had people writing me off many times in my career, I just go out and play. I am confident in my own ability. Whatever anyone writes doesn’t bother me whether it is good or bad. I wasn’t in the England squad so I just have to shrug my shoulders and get on with it. I am not one to sit around and moan and mope.”
Ferdinand also suggests that England is not his major concern at the moment but keeping United at the forefront of English football is.
“At the forefront of my mind is Manchester United and making sure we remain successful, I have had a couple of little niggles but I have been training hard the last couple of weeks and I feel very good. People are talking about it as though I must be getting bored after 10 years, but the motivation of playing for Manchester United never goes.”
The Manchester United defender also expresses his desire to continue winning competitions, adding:
“The feeling you remember is winning. If you could bottle that feeling when you sit down on the pitch or in the dressing room, after you have just been given a trophy, you would be a billionaire. You want it all the time. If you get bored of that, you shouldn’t be playing football.”
Ferdinand also goes on to suggest that even when the side are training at Carrington, everyone want’s to win and it can lead to arguments.
“If you get beaten in training there is normally an argument or finger pointing. That desire never wavers. When you pull on that shirt you cannot go out there with a feeling any less than wanting to win. I have said from the day I arrived to the day I leave you will be judged on what you won. You can be a great player and win nothing, then you don’t get remembered.”
The United defender added:
“You have to be part of a team that wins. That is the driving force behind this squad.”
