I protected Rio Ferdinand from 'intimidating' Robbie Savage in Man Utd tunnel clash

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has recalled an incident between Robbie Savage and Rio Ferdinand during a game against Blackburn Rovers

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has recalled protecting Rio Ferdinand after confronting Robbie Savage.

The pair were key players during one of the most successful periods in United’s history. As teammates, Ferdinand and Rooney won five Premier League titles, as well as Champions League, Club World Cup and League Cup triumphs. However, Rooney has revealed how he also proved useful off the pitch, referencing a clash with Blackburn Rovers.

A previous game between the two sides had seen Ferdinand receive the only red card of his career in a 4-3 defeat to a David Bentley-inspired Rovers at Ewood Park. Ferdinand blamed Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage for his dismissal and, when the teams met again, chased after the midfielder as the players headed to the dressing room at half-time.

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Both Rooney and Ferdinand were on punditry duty for TNT Sports during United’s clash with Everton on Saturday. When discussing the incident with Savage, a smiling Rooney joked about how he was forced to come to Ferdinand’s aid.

“It was one of the many times I’ve had to protect Rio,” the former striker said. “Savage was a very difficult guy to play against and very intimidating as well.”

When asked what Savage had done to irk him, Ferdinand quipped: “His hairspray was getting in my eyes!”

“Sav, he got me sent off once [because] he was acting,” Ferdinand added. “He was actually a really good player Sav. He was good at all of the stuff outside the football, just to antagonise people.

“Got me sent off in the game before we came here. He ran past me and barged me on the way down the tunnel at half-time so I chased him down the tunnel and the rest is history. I won’t… Sav’s got a career to maintain! I love him now, me and Sav get on really well.”

While Ferdinand was coy in his answer this time around, the pundit has previously claimed that Savage ended up ‘on the floor’. The story emerged during United’s Champions League clash with PSG in 2020 and Savage offered an immediate rebuttal during the broadcast.

"Mate he's got in there first. Different story," Savage claimed. “I just text him and said 'The tunnel line is coming, I'm going to get you'. Listen, different version of events. he knows the real story. That's why he goes to the gym so often now."