RIO FERDINAND LISTS THE PLAYERS WHO HELPED MANCHESTER CITY DEFEAT BAYERN MUNICH

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand, a Manchester United star, has named four players that helped Manchester City defeat Bayern Munich in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first-leg tie at the Etihad Stadium.

According to Ferdinand, Man City's John Stones, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, and Manuel Akanji were outstanding against Bayern Munich.

The former England defender was thrilled with the four players and thought they contributed to the overwhelming win, calling them "fantastic."

"I think early on, we spoke about the threats Bayern carried, especially out wide through Coman etc, Akanji and Ake were so convincing," Ferdinand told BT Sport.

"They said they could go 1 v 1. It is a big difference, as good as they are - they have positives over Cancelo and Zinchenko. These two can do it, and it allows others to have freedom on the pitch. I thought the back four were phenomenal.

"The back four, Akanji, Ake, are wonderful. Dias, the amount of blocks he put in, and Stones with the ball - that platform helps everything else, and they capitalised.

"Today, we saw City enjoy the element of defending. It is a huge art."