BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP) - Rio Ferdinand has insisted Manchester United will do all they can to preserve the reputation of the FA Cup after starting a campaign to extend their record of 11 trophy wins in the world's oldest knockout football competition with victory over Aston Villa.
United saw Cristiano Ronaldo's 19th goal of the season and Wayne Rooney's 89th minute effort seal a 2-0 third round win in a match where new England manager Fabio Capello was among the Villa Park crowd.
There was more than an air of inevitability as United cruised to their tenth FA Cup success in 12 games against Villa, and their fourth in six years, after the 70th minute introduction off the bench of England striker Rooney.
Ferdinand said the fact United played their two key forwards on Saturday was proof of how United, beaten in last season's final by Chelsea, were determined to go one better this term despite the strain of also trying to win both the Premier League and the Champions League.
"The FA Cup is well up there when it comes to our list of priorities this season. We want to win it. There is no doubt about that," explained England central defender Ferdinand.
"That is why we came here with such a strong squad. Other teams might leave players out, but we have fielded a very strong team.
"When we have someone like Wayne Rooney on the bench it is fantastic. He made the difference. He completely changed the game when he came on. He is a fantastic footballer and great to have in your side. It is great, as a team-mate, to see him coming on as a substitute."
Capello, starting work two days earlier than billed, was accompanied by the FA chief executive, Brian Barwick, for his first official scouting engagement.
The Italian will have been encouraged by the impact made by Rooney, whose 11th goal of the season, a minute from time, completed victory after Ronaldo had broken the deadlock eight minutes earlier.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, paying tribute to his match-winners, said: "They did not make it easy for Ronaldo, but he still managed to come up with a goal and that made the difference for us. That squeezed us through in a tight match.
"As for Rooney, he changed the game for us. I have been looking for another Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, although I don't think Wayne would appreciate coming off the bench regularly.
"He gives us thrust and enthusiasm and his direct play, attacking defenders, made a heck of a difference to the game."
Ferguson, who came under fire for criticising the lack of vocal backing by United fans at Old Trafford during the New Year's win over Birmingham City, praised the travelling supporters for their efforts during Saturday's win.
"We had 7,500 fans here, who had a real party," the Scot said. "When our fans are like that, we do not let them down."
Villa have not beaten United the FA Cup since winning the 1957 final, the last time they lifted the trophy, and that miserable sequence never looked like ending with the hosts rarely troubling visiting goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
"We competed and we were in the game for 80 minutes, but we never really looked like getting a goal and that was the problem," said Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager.
"John Carew played when he was not quite fit and they defended really well to limit us to very little."
Meanwhile, Ferguson was left contemplating the prospect of a fourth round tie in Monday's draw against Peterborough, who are managed by his son Darren.
Fourth-tier Peterborough won 3-1 away to Colchester - two divisions above them - before United kicked-off and Ferguson senior said: "You hope for a home draw, but I would like Peterborough, just to give Darren's club some money."
