Rio: Can't Take Win For Granted

Rio Ferdinand insists United are taking nothing for granted despite a 2-0 triumph against Schalke in the Champions League semi-finals.

The Reds bring the Bundesliga side back to fortress Old Trafford with a commanding lead after a splendid performance that extended the run of away clean sheets throughout this season's competition.

Ferdinand, immaculate as ever at the heart of the defence, is still fearful of the quality possessed by Ralf Rangnick's team.

"We'll wait and see," he told MUTV. "We won't count our eggs too soon. We know that teams can peg you back. There's quality in all sides at this stage of the competition. Players like Raul are quality so you can't take anything for granted."

The shut-out record is not in the centre-back's thoughts as he focuses on completing the job in the second leg.

"It all counts for nothing if you don't get there, or if you get there and you don't win," he explained. "We need to make sure we continue the way we're playing and when we take Schalke back to Old Trafford, we play the same way we did here and then hopefully get through to the final."

After an opening half where only goals were missing from an outstanding team display, Ferdinand admits he feared one lapse in concentration or moment of quality from the hosts could undo all the fine work.

"I thought, first half, we were very good," he said. "We should have come in at half-time maybe three or four goals up. Their keeper played well and made some good saves. We were just a bit disappointed at half-time.

"Going out for the second half, we said as long as keep a clean sheet we'll get more chances and this time we need to put them away. We did that. In some ways, I was a little bit surprised [by how dominant we were] but then I look at the players in our changing room and it doesn't surprise me because we've got quality in there. If we click and play well like we did in the first half, we can open up any team.

"It was on a bit of a knife-edge for us defensively because we were thinking after creating so many chances that if they got one and put it away, it would be a big upset."