Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has admitted that he worries about children laughing at him every time the Red Devils lose a game.

The former England captain and father-of-three has revealed that part of his desire to win is to avoid teasing from kids in the street.

"You have to understand, we've still got lives to lead outside of football," said Ferdinand. "When you're walking up the path to school, you don't want little kids laughing at you or making fun of you because you've been beaten.

"That's what happens if you lose games or get knocked out of competitions. Young kids can be unforgiving. There's nothing in their minds that goes, 'he plays football, leave him alone'. If anything, they're even worse for it.

"And there's still a little kid inside me who has pride and an ego and wants to make sure I can walk up that path and nobody can say anything to me because we've won. I know as soon as that feeling goes it's time to pack up my boots."

While the Red Devils are out of the Champions League as well as the domestic competitions, the North West side remain in contention to clinch the title as well as the Europa League.