Manchester United v Olympique Lyonnais - UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg
Rio Ferdinand was due to cover the Champions League semi-final (Picture: Getty)
Rio Ferdinand will Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final clash against PSG after being admitted to hospital.
The Manchester United legend and former England defender was due to cover the European clash for TNT Sports.
Ferdinand, 46, has worked regularly for the TV network since ending a playing career that produced over 700 appearances and six Premier League titles.
But he shared a picture from a hospital bed on Wednesday evening, just a few hours before kick-off.
Ferdinand, who won the Champions League in 2008, at least appeared to be in good spirits, giving a thumbs-up to the camera.
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He wrote: ‘Gutted to be missing the semi-finals this week on TNT Sports! Wishing the team all the best — I’ll be watching every minute from the iPad!’
The TNT Sports X account responded by saying: ‘Get well soon, Rio!’
Ferdinand was most recently on punditry duty for Manchester United’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao last week.
The former defender, considered one of the greatest England has ever produced, was also on the mic during United’s incredible European comeback against Lyon.
Ferdinand faced some backlash for his perceived ‘biased’ commentary during his former club’s famous victory.
Arsenal face French champions PSG hoping to overturn a one-goal first-leg deficit and book their place in the Champions League final.
Revealing his prediction for the clash last week, Ferdinand predicted PSG would advance to the final at the expense of Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.
‘I’m going to go Barcelona against Paris Saint-Germain,’ he said on his YouTube channel when asked to predict the two finallists.
‘If there is a team who can go to PSG and win it’s Arsenal. I don’t think it’s about ability at this stage, I think it’s about mentality and belief.
‘In Bukayo Saka they’ve got a matchwinner who can turn the game on its head. There’s positives there but if the mindset isn’t right, they will get smoked, I’m telling you.
‘The problem for Arsenal is PSG are a proper team, I don’t think they’re invincible but they’ve been the best team in the Champions League.’
Ferdinand has already got his first prediction wrong after Inter Milan stunned Barcelona in an all-time classic on Wednesday night.
Barca were minutes away from the final after coming from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 but Inter equalised in injury-time before scoring an extra-time winner.
More to follow…
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