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JOHN O'Shea has hailed his Manchester United team-mates Rio Ferdinand and
Nemanja Vidic as the best central defensive partnership in Europe.
United have kept clean sheets in their last six consecutive league games, and
have conceded only two goals in eight Barclays Premier League matches - both
away from home - and none in Europe.
One more clean sheet, at Aston Villa on October 20, will mean the team equal a
club record of seven set way back in 1924 in the old second division.
O'Shea said: "It's a pretty happy camp at the moment, especially with the
defensive situation with the clean sheets.
"Rio and Nemanja are definitely a major factor to it - you cannot ask for two
better central defenders in Europe, in my opinion.
"I hope they will stay clear of injury because they have been a major influence on
keeping the clean sheets."
Vidic had to be substituted because of concussion during Saturday's 4-0 win over
Wigan. But that was mainly as a precaution, and there are suggestions that the
Serbian defender is in line to be given a new contract.
Headache
United do not normally hand out new deals until 12 months before a player's
contract expires - but such has been Vidic's impact they may make a special case
for him.
As O'Shea made clear, Vidic also gives opponents a headache at the other end of
the pitch.
"Nemanja is big goal threat as well," he said.
"You know if the ball is going towards him when he makes a run there's a good
chance of it being a goal. Other teams are picking up on that now, and he's
becoming really tightly marked."
O'Shea has been filling in at right-back for the injured Wes Brown - and the
Republic of Ireland international says there is huge pride in the back four and the
goalkeeper when they stop opponents scoring.
"For a defender, keeping a clean sheet is like a striker scoring a couple of goals,"
he reasons.
"With the attacking quality we have, we know if we keep a clean sheet then nine
times out of 10 we are going to win the game.
"We hope we can keep it going. Gary Neville will be back soon - and with the
games we have coming up in the Champions League and the Premier League,
we need his kind of experience.
"The top teams are gathering pace now - and Arsenal, in particular, look very
tasty at the minute."
Do you think Ferdinand and Vidic are the best central defensive partnership in
Europe?
Nemanja Vidic as the best central defensive partnership in Europe.
United have kept clean sheets in their last six consecutive league games, and
have conceded only two goals in eight Barclays Premier League matches - both
away from home - and none in Europe.
One more clean sheet, at Aston Villa on October 20, will mean the team equal a
club record of seven set way back in 1924 in the old second division.
O'Shea said: "It's a pretty happy camp at the moment, especially with the
defensive situation with the clean sheets.
"Rio and Nemanja are definitely a major factor to it - you cannot ask for two
better central defenders in Europe, in my opinion.
"I hope they will stay clear of injury because they have been a major influence on
keeping the clean sheets."
Vidic had to be substituted because of concussion during Saturday's 4-0 win over
Wigan. But that was mainly as a precaution, and there are suggestions that the
Serbian defender is in line to be given a new contract.
Headache
United do not normally hand out new deals until 12 months before a player's
contract expires - but such has been Vidic's impact they may make a special case
for him.
As O'Shea made clear, Vidic also gives opponents a headache at the other end of
the pitch.
"Nemanja is big goal threat as well," he said.
"You know if the ball is going towards him when he makes a run there's a good
chance of it being a goal. Other teams are picking up on that now, and he's
becoming really tightly marked."
O'Shea has been filling in at right-back for the injured Wes Brown - and the
Republic of Ireland international says there is huge pride in the back four and the
goalkeeper when they stop opponents scoring.
"For a defender, keeping a clean sheet is like a striker scoring a couple of goals,"
he reasons.
"With the attacking quality we have, we know if we keep a clean sheet then nine
times out of 10 we are going to win the game.
"We hope we can keep it going. Gary Neville will be back soon - and with the
games we have coming up in the Champions League and the Premier League,
we need his kind of experience.
"The top teams are gathering pace now - and Arsenal, in particular, look very
tasty at the minute."
Do you think Ferdinand and Vidic are the best central defensive partnership in
Europe?
