Rio Ferdinand provides update after leaving Champions League broadcast mid-game
Rio Ferdinand has insisted he is "alive and kicking" after being taken ill during Newcastle's draw with PSG on Tuesday.
Ferdinand was working as a pundit for TNT Sports for that Champions League clash, but left the broadcast mid-game. Host Laura Woods put his sudden departure down to "unforeseen circumstances", with the former England international returning to his hotel room to rest.
But Ferdinand has now revealed he will be back on duty on Wednesday night as Manchester United travel to Galatasaray. He shared a video on his social media account of himself travelling through Istanbul's airport with commentator Darren Fletcher.
In the video, Ferdinand confirmed he had made a quick recovery. Fletcher added that the TNT punditry team are "all set" for the crucial clash at RAMS Park, which United need to win to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages alive.
Ferdinand wrote as the caption for the video: "Exclusive: Don’t panic people… I’m alive & kicking ready for tonight’s action in Istanbul! UNITED UNITED."
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In the video, he said: "This is the way to travel man. Almost didn't make this flight, almost didn't make this game. But it's Man United in Istanbul, I had to be here with this man." Fletcher then added: "Gliding through the airport, Istanbul. Here we go. We are ready, he's well, he's back, we're all set."
HAVE YOUR SAY! What should be Manchester United's team for their trip to Galatasaray? Comment below.
Rio Ferdinand has confirmed he has recovered from illness and work as a pundit for Manchester United's trip to Galatasaray (Getty Images)According to the Daily Mail, Ferdinand was taken ill during the Newcastle game and returned to his hotel room. But after feeling better on Wednesday morning, he declared himself fit to work on TNT's coverage of United's away trip.
TNT did not give any explaination for Ferdinand's exit, apart from a statement from presenter Woods, who said: "Rio would be here to chat about Manchester United now, but we had to let him go [due to] unforeseen circumstances. He is OK. Don't worry."
United come into the game off the back of a convincing win over Everton on Sunday. And boss Erik ten Hag has urged his side to replicate their performance at Goodison Park as they prepare for the partisan atmosphere Galatasaray fans will create.
“I think it was really a team performance from the first whistle, how we took control in that game. Then we had a tough period. We survived it and then second half we were very proactive, very dynamic, very brave and we killed the game," he said.
“We have to do similar but to get the energy for it. But of course again in a different environment, with even more noise. We have to deal with that environment, with the situation and to make it our game.
“You have to take the environment and rise even more to the occasion, and to take that as fuel to go into that game and to win. That's the only way it can go. You have to be together. You have to stick together. You have to get on one page and execute.”
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