With the champions set to welcome Jose Mourinho’s charges to Old Trafford on Monday, the defender feels clashes with Manchester City and Liverpool are more important

Rio Ferdinand has played down rivalry between Manchester United and Chelsea, insisting games against Liverpool and Manchester City are bigger.

United take on Chelsea at Old Trafford in David Moyes’ first home Premier League match on Monday after getting their title defence off to a fine start with a 4-1 win at Swansea last week.

However, Ferdinand – who hit out at Jose Mourinho’s recent claim United were not impressive champions – does not attach the same importance to facing the Blues as he does with those led by their more traditional rivals.

“I wouldn’t say [playing Chelsea] was one of my favourites,” Ferdinand said at United’s launch of a commercial partnership with Apollo Tyres.

“You look forward to playing every time you step out at Old Trafford. It is a special place to play. We all appreciate playing there in front of our home fans and we try to put on a show. I wouldn’t say we take anyone more seriously or enjoy playing against anyone more.

“The Liverpool and Manchester City games are usually hyped up a bit more than anyone else. The feeling after winning one of those games is probably the biggest of the season.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Giggs – who faced Swansea on Saturday – is keen to get a good foothold in the league as they look to defend the title with a new manager, in David Moyes, and rivals who have strengthened over the summer.

“You want to get off to a good start,” the 39-year-old added. “It is the first Premier League home game. When Mourinho was at Chelsea they obviously got off to good starts and we didn’t manage to catch them.

“It has been well documented that we have a tough start. We got a good win at Swansea on Saturday and hopefully we can carry that on.”

The centre-back has succeeded the recently retired Jamie Carragher as the club’s new vice-captain, and says he will look to the current skipper as an example to follow

Daniel Agger has hailed the influence of Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and says he will follow the midfielder’s example after being made vice-captain.

The centre-back, who has been linked with a move to Barcelona in recent weeks, succeeded the recently retired Jamie Carragher for the new season, while goalkeeper Pepe Reina joined Napoli on loan.

And Agger is aware of the responsibilities that come with the armband, and sees Gerrard as the perfect inspiration to follow.

“I always have responsibility, no matter if you’re vice-captain or not,” Agger told the club’s official website. “You have to always be there, always be at the front and, of course, try to help some of the young players.

“Now I have been here for almost eight years and Stevie has been the captain all the way. He is an amazing captain: he is the one I will look at.

“Not only in his football skills, because that speaks for itself, but the person he is and the way he treats people – he’s just the best.

“It’s the same in every single football team, in every single job – when somebody goes, somebody new has to take over. It has been like that forever. So there’s nothing new there. Over the years, the players have changed a lot.

Agger, though, is confident he can shine when the opportunity arises, having captained Denmark of late – an achievement he describes as the pinnacle of a player’s career.

He continued: “When I play for Denmark and I’m the captain for Denmark, I’ve learned a lot in the last 10 years of my career.

“I’m trying to take the best part of all the good things, also from Stevie, and put it together in the way I want to do it. I think that’s the best way to describe that.

“It’s the biggest thing you can achieve at international level, being captain of your country. Every time I put that armband on, it makes me proud.

“You learn something all the time and when you put that armband on, something happens to you. It’s difficult to describe but it’s a good thing.”

The 22-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate knee ligament problem during Uruguay’s 4-2 victory over Japan, and will undergo surgery in his homeland on Friday

Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates is set for a lengthy lay-off after suffering a serious knee injury on international duty.

The 22-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate knee ligament problem during Uruguay’s 4-2 victory over Japan in Saitama, having featured in the final 10 minutes after replacing Diego Godin in central defence.

And the Uruguayan FA have now confirmed that Coates will undergo surgery on Friday prior to an extended recovery period.

A statement read: “After finishing Uruguay’s friendly match against Japan on Wednesday, an injury to Sebastian Coates’ right knee was discovered for which he received an anti-inflammatory treatment.

“After communication between the Uruguayan doctors and those at Liverpool, it was decided that further examination was required in England prior to his return to Montevideo.

“The studies showed an injury anterior cruciate ligament and so it was decided that surgical treatment was necessary. It will be done on Friday in the city of San Pablo.

“The player will subsequently undergo a rehabilitation strategy that will, in part, take place in Montevideo.”

Coates made just 12 appearances for Liverpool last season after finding himself out of favour with manager Brendan Rodgers.

A close-season departure from Anfield had been mooted as a result, though his chances of sealing a switch now appear to be gone with a lengthy spell on the sidelines inevitable.