"We've always had that situation here where your star players have a blip and he'll get criticised," the United boss has said.
"No player likes criticism. We all like to be loved and want an arm around our shoulders. Rio will come out of it.
"There is no discernible depreciation in his qualities - none for me at all.
"Playing with injuries is not the easiest thing to do and we'll try to get that right.
"Calf injuries can be troublesome. If you don't arrest it and give it proper treatment then you can end up the way we are now, and playing in games when you are not 100% fit."