Ferdinand: Irish will be tough opposition
"I guess people on paper will say we should win the game, but we have got to earn the right to win, we've got to go out there and play as a team and get the three points we need," Ferdinand told a press conference televised by Sky Sports News.
"There is a confident air about the team we've got the players individually but individuals don't win tournaments. That was proved by Greece (who won Euro 2004) you have to have a capable team, a collective team who work for each other.
"If we can do that then we've got a good chance, we've got some great young players coming through and some players who have been to some big tournaments, so I think we've got the potential and we have got to put that into practice."
After England were heavily criticised for below-par performances in recent friendly matches against Spain and Holland, Ferdinand said he "doesn't care" about the performance as long as the result is a win.
He explained: "I don't care if we play well or not as long as we get the three points I'm happy because I want to get to the World Cup.
"I want to be at the World Cup and perform on the biggest stage so, yes, we'd like to play well but the results get you to where you want to be and that is the main thing for us. Performances reluctantly come second."
Old Trafford is likely to play host to a scrappy game with Northern Ireland looking to hustle their hosts.
"We expect a tough game, definitely against another home country. They have got players who play in the Premier League who will be wanting to put one over on us. The Wales game was tough and this one will be similar."
Ferdinand has praised England team-mate Joe Cole for adding an "end product" to his game which could see the midfielder break into the starting XI.
Cole has been tipped to make his first competitive start for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side in the World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland on Saturday and former West Ham team-mate Ferdinand can see why: "You can see the difference, he is not as frilly as he was before.
"He has undoubted ability in terms of individual skill and being able to take people on and do the fancy stuff but, at the end of the day, end product is the thing that gets you to the top.
"I think he has started to incorporate that into his game in terms of goals, creating chances for others and I think it is encouraging that he has realised that and we are seeing the benefits of that with the way he plays for Chelsea."
Ferdinand refused to comment on allegations that United team-mate Wayne Rooney was involved in an assault at a nightclub last weekend, but insisted England players knew better than to go out drinking too close to a big match.
"If you were to go out the Thursday before a game, then that is a problem. I think you don't give yourself time to recover at all, especially if you are drinking.
"If you go out the weekend before, the Monday, if you're going for a meal on the Tuesday or the Wednesday for a meal it is not a problem, I think even the manager would say it is not a problem," he said.
"But I think if you're going out to a nightclub on a Thursday even a Wednesday night I wouldn't do myself I don't think there is any player in the team that would go out the Thursday before a game.
"I don't think it is right, you've got to make sure you are prepared physically for a game on the Saturday."
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