RIO FERDINAND believes getting the sweet taste of success is an essential part of Manchester United's graduation process.
United opened their Premier League title defence with a 2-1 victory at West Brom on Sunday — and they did it with a side rammed full of young players.
Once Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic had departed through injury at the Hawthorns, there were seven United players aged 24 or under on the pitch.
Red Devils boss Alex Ferguson has clearly decided his kids are good enough to carry the fight, which is just as well given he will be without his first-choice central defensive pairing for the upcoming home games against Tottenham and Arsenal.
But even before he suffered the hamstring injury that has scuppered his chances of being involved in United's opening Champions League game and England's Euro 2012 double-header against Bulgaria and Wales next month, Ferdinand was noting what the experience of winning can do for a young player's career.
He said: "Getting that continuity, that smell and taste of success is something that all the young guys who have come into the squad and not won anything yet need to feel.
"They need to sense it and become a part of it. I am sure they will enjoy doing that this year."
Even from the sidelines, Ferdinand's input over the next six weeks is bound to be important.
The former West Ham star, 32, remains one of the most mentally tough members of Ferguson's squad and his advice to the likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans will be invaluable as they try to subdue the Premier League's most potent strike forces.
And Ferdinand can offer his own insight into the times when United do not gain success.
Although he won the title in his first season following a then record £29.1million move from Leeds in 2002, Ferdinand missed out on the main prize for the following three seasons.
But that proved to be the prelude to a golden era of four championships in five years — they missed a complete clean sweep by a single point — and three Champions League final appearances in four years.
Ferdinand said: "Maybe people will look back and say this was a golden period. It is certainly up there as one of the most successful periods in the club's history.
"It is great to be part of it because the memories of not winning things are awful. We won the league the first season I was here, then went three years on the bounce without winning it.
"This place is like a morgue after losing a game, it is depressing. You don't want to walk to the shops and you are embarrassed walking anywhere.
"If you want to be successful, you have to remember those feelings and hope they don't come back."
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