Matteo the leader to rekindle Woodgate

Life after Rio: One man's absence is a giant opportunity for the Leeds captain and a lieutenant with a career to rebuild

If Dominic Matteo needs a reminder of what it takes to assume the Leeds captaincy, it standsoutside Elland Road in sculpted metal, an evocative impression of the late Billy Bremner frozen for eternity in a gesture of defiance.

A similar ability to inspire those around him will be demanded of the Dumfries-born, quarter-Italian (his father Alberto is Scots-Italian), Scouser entrusted to provide on-field leadership in these post-O'Leary, post-Ferdinand times in which Leeds must swiftly announce to a sceptical world that the trauma of the summer has not diminished their status as championship aspirants.

Players, as a rule, tend to cope with transition far more philosophically than those who support their team, and for a man who has been introduced to two new managers – Bertie Vogts of Scotland and Terry Venables at Elland Road – this year as well as assimilating into a re-formed defence while becoming familiar with a new responsibility, the Leeds centre-back is remarkably composed about recent developments in Yorkshire.

Perhaps even more than the departure of David O'Leary – the Leeds faithful appear relatively sanguine about his successor – the loss of Ferdinand has had a numbing effect on the Elland Road regulars, the more so because he has gone, in football terms, to "another place" (but just don't dare describe it as a move from the Commons to the Lords).

"Having played alongside Rio for a couple of seasons I know how good the lad is and I believe he'll only get better," Matteo insists. "He'll become the best defender in the world, if he already isn't. He's a class act, on and off the field. But he's gone now and we've just got to get on with our own jobs. There's a lot of quality players still here. That's been our attitude since Rio's been gone."

Ferdinand's £30m transfer has led to Venables placing the skipper's armband around Matteo's powerfully muscled arm and has also yielded Jonathan Woodgate the opportunity to establish himself as a regular, which can only enhance his prospects of improving on one England cap. Matteo is convinced that Woodgate will seize it.

"Woodie's had his injuries and problems off the field while Rio was making a name for himself, but if you've see them both in training, you'd think that he and Rio weren't too dissimilar," he maintains. "They're both good on the ball and both strong in the air. They both read the game pretty early and quickly size up a situation. And both are very quick. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Woodie and Rio end up playing for England together."

He adds: "Last season was hard for Woodie. But he has come out of it a better person. He's obviously learnt his lesson. He just wants to get back to his football and return to the England set-up, as I'm sure he will do. Rio leaving has given us all a chance to prove ourselves, especially Jonathan, because while he was here most of the talk was about him."

The reaction of the supporters to Ferdinand will be intriguing to witness when he returns with Sir Alex Ferguson's team four weeks on Saturday. There will, no doubt, be a certain animosity, but you suspect it won't reach the pitch of fury directed against Sol Campbell when he reappeared at White Hart Lane in an Arsenal shirt.

"What's upset the fans is that when he came here he was such a revelation after everyone had doubted the money [£18m] that had been paid for him," says Matteo. "The fans voted him Player of the Year last season – and then he's gone. That's probably what's hurt them the most, and obviously going to Manchester United rubs salt in. But there will be many who will realise it was maybe something that he couldn't resist. Forget the money element, it was a big thing for him. It was a decision he had to make."

He adds: "I really hope they won't be too harsh on him because he's a young lad with a bright future, and he's such a likeable fella off the field. That's one of the reasons why we're so gutted around the place."

Pre-season, Leeds have endeavoured to demonstrate that there is life after Rio. A successful tour of the Far East has been followed by a defeat of Barnsley and a draw at Rangers. Matteo has played a significant role, both as a defender and as a skipper.

"I was captain a few times last year when Rio was injured and I thought I did a decent job," he reflects. "The lads probably think I'm a bit of a moaner but I only do it for the good of the team. You need to be getting on each other's cases. But you have to treat people differently if they're having a bad time. Some need cuddling, others need telling."

The plain-speaking 28-year-old Scottish international, who looks certain to be in Vogts' squad to face Denmark in a friendly on Wednesday week, was first brought to Liverpool's attention by Kenny Dalglish and was once considered "the new Alan Hansen". You broach some of the names whose distinguished company he will join: Bremner, Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister. "It's something you dream about as a kid, to captain a big football team. I live in the city and people are already mentioning my name with theirs; that's very flattering because I know what the past means to people here."

Last season, he and Ferdinand were integral to some resourceful defensive displays. Can he establish the same rapport with Woodgate? "It's important that you talk and build a good relationship, on and off the field," he says. "If you look at the teams that do well they all have a strong partnership in the middle."

When we met, on Friday, it was after a training session in which Nick Barmby, Venables' first acquisition, had made his inaugural appearance. It increases the ex-Liverpool contingent to three. "Yeah, we could do with a few more," Matteo jokes. "Maybe Stevie Gerrard and a few of the other boys."

You suggest to him that he sounds a little wistful about the club he joined 10 years ago. "Great city, class club, everything about the place I absolutely love, I still go back to watch games and people are great to me," he enthuses. "I see the old faces, Ronnie Moran, people like that. Yes, it was a sad day when I left, but footballing-wise it was right for me at the time. When you get an offer from a club like this it's an easy decision to make."

His former team and Ferdinand's new one appear to have the championship between them and Arsenal this season, but Matteo is not convinced. "We've lost Rio, but I still think we can be as solid at the back as in the last couple of seasons. We need to be. The team who concede fewest goals usually win the League. With the quality we've got here now, with six top-class strikers, hopefully we'll have a good crack this season."

He may not be a Billy Bremner, but somehow you feel the wee fellow would approve of his modern-day counterpart.