Will Ferry living European dream with Dundee United as skipper declares 'this is the game' ahead of Rapid Vienna clash

Daily Record

3 days ago

Ferry will captain United as they look to pull off a seismic Euro shock tomorrow night
Will Ferry always wanted to play for Manchester City in the Champions League but has admitted it is still a dream come true representing Dundee United in the Conference League.
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Ferry is from a big City family that has seen them rise from the doldrums to European champions under Pep Guardiola.
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But they have become hardcore Dundee United since Ferry made the move to Tannadice last summer.
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His parents and others were in Luxembourg last month and Vienna this month and will be hoping their European adventure continues beyond Thursday' second leg with Rapid, with the tie currently evenly-poised at 2-2.
Ferry, who will captain United in the game, admitted: 'It is a bit cliched or cringey but it is something I have always dreamt about, although it was more Champions League.
'This is the Conference League but it is still Europe and it was something I always wanted to do as a kid.
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'I used to watch City when they were still rubbish and they got into the Champions League. The whole family was all desperate to go and watch them play PSG and all that. For me, this is the game.'
'It is an experience I will never forget, especially walking out as captain. It is emotional.'
Ferry claimed it meant everything to him leading United out to a memorable draw in the Allianz Stadium last week. He was fully backed by the Ferry family and wants to give them and the United faithful even more to cheer about this week.
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The left-back stated: 'My mum and dad were there.
'Even before the game, my mum was saying don't take it for granted because it was something I had dreamt of.
'They are massive football fans and used to go and watch City.
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'They never thought they would be coming to see me in European competition. 'I know they are really proud as well.
'I think it was my gran and sister who were at home. 'They would have had the game on television and I am sure the dog was watching as well.'
The ex-Southampton player knows United need to be fully focused and on it if they want to get the win they need against Rapid.
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Ferry insisted: 'We aren't getting carried away in the changing room, I can't emphasise that enough. 'Yes, we have come in and we are all happy but it was still a bit subdued because we know we still haven't achieved anything.
'The job is only half-done and we are not going to get carried away. There is not an inferiority complex, it is not there because we know we can do it.
'The first leg performance was confirmation of that. We are going into that game and some people might see us as underdogs.
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"We will take that but we know we can match teams. We would never write ourselves off and we are never out.
'We have been behind twice and come back twice. We know if we do it right then we can match them and hopefully get through the tie.'
The good thing from Jim Goodwin 's point of view is that their strikers Zac Sapsford and Max Watters both scored and caused Rapid all sorts of problems in the first game.
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The defender stated: 'Zac was involved in both of them and you can't ask for much more. (Owen) Stirton came on and caused chaos, which was what we needed him to do because we were under the cosh.
'It shows because it was through sheer grit and determination that we scored those two goals. We had chances but those goals were down to a bit of individual quality and good passing but with Zac it was sheer determination in the end.
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'He ran himself into the ground and could hardly move at the end.
'He got his rewards at the end. 'He has been thrown in and now he has scored in Europe.
'I doubt three months ago he would have even thought that was a thing. We've got quality and it is just a case of putting it together and knitting certain relationships together. We are getting there.'
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Scottish football's coefficient got a shot in the arm last week with United's draw and wins for Rangers and Hibs, against Viktoria Plzen and Partizan Belgrade, in particular. Ferry is hoping they can all fly the flag again this week.
He said: 'I am not sitting here hoping Hibs do this or that but it is good for the game in general. There are a lot of critics of the league.
'Maybe the football we play in Europe is maybe looked down on, but there is a bit of ignorance towards the league.
'We go out wanting to do the league and Scottish football proud. 'We want to stay in as long as we can to boost the coefficient. We want as many teams as possible competing in Europe.
'Hopefully, we are taking it on our back and showing we can compete.'
United have already added Danish midfielder Julius Eskesen from Haugesund but is unavailable for the second leg against Rapid.