Former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic believes the secret of his formidable partnership with Rio Ferdinand was their relationship off the pitch.
The Serb made 300 appearances for the Old Trafford club, winning five league titles and the Champions League alongside Ferdinand.
Between them, they formed one of the Premier League's most solid defensive duos and Vidic, now 37, claims their strong bond off the pitch helped their performances on it.
'I think we go well off the pitch as well, so I think that helps,' Vidic told Stadium Astro.
'Rio was quite open when I came (from Spartak Moscow in 2006). He helped me not just in the club, outside as well, to settle in the town. We'd built with every training. We actually communicated during training even.
'A lot of times, even when (United coach) Rene (Meulensteen) was explaining the next exercises you could see me and Rio talking about something. All the players are saying: "Shut up you two, you're talking all the time!"
'What we did actually, we were talking about situations that happened, probably in the last match or during training.'
Vidic wore the armband for some of his spell at Old Trafford and is considered among the division's finest defenders of recent years.
His no-nonsense style complemented Ferdinand's silky ball skills and the 37-year-old believe they came to 'depend on each other'.
'We liked to understand each other, and that's most important. For defenders, the most important thing is communication and understanding,' he added.
'The position, you depend on each other. Strikers aren't really dependent on each other, but defenders, definitely.'
Ferdinand responded to his former team-mate's comments by Tweeting 'Vida' alongside a love heart.