Football: Derby rivalry resumes in S'pore

Few would have been surprised when Rio Ferdinand and Sergio Aguero came out decked in red and blue shirts, respectively, when they turned up on stage to face the media yesterday.

Ferdinand, of course, has been a rock for Manchester United, while Argentina's Aguero has won two Premier League winners' medals in three seasons with Manchester City.

For a long time, the biggest rivalry in English football has been between United and Liverpool, but ever since City's rise to "big boys" status after the Abu Dhabi group took over in 2008 - the Manchester Derby is taking on extra significance as each season passes.

Even thousands of miles away from the Premiership battleground, and with the guns silenced now until next season, the rivalry between the two Manchester stars was evident yesterday.

Most of it was playful, of course, although central defender Ferdinand, 35, was a little rattled when The New Paper asked Argentina's Aguero for his view of United.

"Can United return to being City's main rivals in the Premiership next season, or are they too far behind?" asked this reporter.

The striker's reply was diplomatic enough, when he said the rivalry between the two clubs will always be evident and he hoped the best team would win every year.

Ferdinand then abruptly interjected.

"Can we get this guy out of here, now!" the United hero joked.

Both footballers were in Singapore for yesterday's SingTel Game On! Ultimate Selfie Challenge, using a new Samsung smartphone.

SPEAKING SINGLISH

They challenged each other learning Singlish at the Chevron House, practising taiji at the Tooth Relic temple and ball juggling at the Singapore Flyer, before talking football at the SingTel Comcentre.

Ferdinand won the Ultimate Selfie Challenge for scoring most retweets of his selfie posts on Twitter.

He had announced his United exit just before he flew from England to Singapore on Tuesday, but it was evident that the club are still very close to his heart.

Like any United man, he dreaded watching the Citizens lift their second league title in three years.

"It's never enjoyable watching another team win something you consider your own," said the stylish centre back.

"We've always had a big rivalry with City, but over the last three years they've been challenging more, and the rivalry has gone up and up."

"But you have to be respectful. We've had a successful last 20 years. So when anyone else wins it, we know how hard it is to win."

While Ferdinand mulls over his future, Aguero, 25, will have the World Cup in Brazil to look forward to.

The gifted forward was asked about former strike partner Carlos Tevez's controversial omission from the squad.

"I've already asked him that," Ferdinand interrupted.

After the Argentinian politely declined to answer, the United star winked at the audience and revealed he got a different response earlier.

Inevitably, the rivalry between the two players reached the national level - England and Argentina.

Driven by various controversial incidents spanning World Cups in 1966, 1986 and 1998, including Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal and the Falklands War, England and Argentina have an intense rivalry.

If both nations top their respective groups and progress to the semi-finals in Brazil, they will meet in the last four.

FIERY CLASH

Ferdinand, who notched 81 caps for his country, would like nothing more than an England-Argentina clash.

"If England get that far, they would've done unbelievably well," he said.

"We have a very young, inexperienced group of players this time around, but it's also an exciting and fearless group."

"Argentina, for me, are one of three favourites in the tournament, next to Brazil and Spain."

"If they play each other, I'll be happy because they are two great teams."

When the Englishman was pressed to pick a winner, it was Aguero's turn to interject.

"England," he said, cheekily. "There, he answered this one for me," Ferdinand responded, but he knew it was firmly tongue-in-cheek.

This article was published on May 16 in The New Paper.

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