Rio Ferdinand reveals plans to continue playing for Manchester United, insisting he won't retire at end of season

Rio Ferdinand wants to be part of Manchester United's plans next year regardless of who is in charge.

Ferdinand is out of contract at the end of the season and he has been tipped to leave the club.

The 35-year-old has only started 10 Barclays Premier League games this season, but he wants to remain at Old Trafford to be part of the rebuilding process that began with David Moyes' dismissal.

"I'm going to continue playing," said Ferdinand, who moved to Old Trafford from Leeds 12 years ago.

"Whether it's here, I don't know. But I hope so."

Ferdinand has looked an assured presence when called upon at times this year, but his age and recent injury record count against him.

Never during Ferdinand's time at United had he experienced a season as bad as this one.

United were prompted to sack Moyes on Tuesday after he lost 11 league matches, leaving the club in seventh place without any hope of Champions League qualification, and Ferdinand admits he and his team-mates have been embarrassed by the club's form this season.

"I've not looked at the league table for ages because you don't want to," the centre-back said.

"It's embarrassing. You don't want to look at the league table and see where we are."

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Many fans blamed Moyes for United's failings this year, but Ferdinand says the players are just as culpable.

"The players take responsibility as much as anyone else," Ferdinand said.

"We are not shirkers and we are not people who don't take responsibility. I don't think you get to where we have got to in our careers without taking responsibility and this is no different."

Ferdinand was restored to the starting line-up by interim manager Ryan Giggs for Saturday's 4-0 win over Norwich.

The victory helped lift the doom and gloom that had surrounded the club since the beginning of the season.

Ferdinand refused to be drawn into the debate regarding whether Giggs should remain in charge beyond the end of the season, but he is sure the club will bounce back whoever is in charge.

"When you have been successful, you don't want to look at a negative perspective or viewpoint, you always look around and think, 'What can we win, what do we want to win?'," he said

"That will be no different next season. I am sure that whoever is here, whoever is managing, the aim of this club is win trophies and championships and we have done that for 25 years.

"Long may that continue."

Ferdinand was unwilling to criticise Moyes' reign, even though the defender barely featured under the 51-year-old.

The former England captain concedes the players have upped their work rate since Giggs' appointment.

He added: "It is always natural when you change a coaching team, that the intensity goes up because everyone wants to impress and everyone wants to play the first game under the new manager.

"They see it as a new chance, a new opportunity, and that's no different to what I have seen over the years with different teams, including England.

"It is no different this time around."

PA