Ferdinand´s England captaincy ´will boost United´

February 7, 2010

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United can benefit from Fabio Capello’s decision to make Rio Ferdinand the new England captain.

Ferdinand served the second game of his four-match suspension as United returned to the top of the table with a 5-0 victory over Portsmouth.

The defender, 31, was watching from the stands just 24 hours after taking the England skipper’s armband from John Terry, who was stripped of the captaincy by Capello on Friday following allegations about his private life.

Ferguson admits he is proud that a United player will captain England at the World Cup in South Africa later this year and hopes the accolade has a positive effect on Ferdinand’s performances during the Premier League title run-in.

He said: “We’re pleased for him and it’s great for Manchester United to have one of our players captaining his country.

“Over the years we’ve had Gary, Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson for 60-odd games or something so we?re very proud of that.”

Ferguson was happy with the patient display of his team against Avram Grant’s strugglers.

United took until the 40th minute to make the breakthrough but Ferguson thinks that his team, who have dropped just two points against bottom-half teams, were rewarded for their calm approach.

He added: “We had a lot of pressure and possession of the ball but we were patient enough and that?s important when teams come and sit in the way they did here.

“Portsmouth were there to make it difficult but we got the goal just before half time and it was a bit fortunate with the second one but that opened the game for us in the second half and it was a good performance.”

Ferguson admits he is willing Arsenal to take points off Chelsea when the two London teams meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The United manager added: “I don’t know if I’ll watch it or not because I’m going up to Glasgow but I’ll be thinking about it.”

Grant insists that Portsmouth, who face a winding up order, will continue to fight despite their position looking more and more dangerous.

The club are working under their fourth set of owners of the season and are seven points from safety at the bottom of the Premier League.

But the former Chelsea manager is hoping that the Fratton Park club have turned a corner.

He said: “We need to do our job even if it feels like it is going against us.

“I hope that the club will be more stable now. It was almost impossible in the last matches with all the mess around the club and uncertainty.

“I hope now it will be more stable and it’s important for the club. It’s a unique club the whole city is behind the club.

“On the pitch we are doing very well and when you look back over the years, the team at the bottom you see a lot of difference from them to other teams but there’s not a lot of difference between us and tenth place.

“All we want is stability at the club because it will be very difficult to continue like this.

“Positive thinking is always better than negative thinking and as long as we have the chance we will fight.”

United took the lead when Wayne Rooney scored his 23rd goal of the season and Anthony Vanden Borre’s own goal gave the champions a two-goal half-time lead.

Just before the hour, Michael Carrick’s shot looped in off the bar off Richard Hughes and Dimitar Berbatov added a fourth with a fine solo goal.

Portsmouth’s embarrassment was complete when Marc Wilson volleyed into his own net from Patrice Evra’s cross.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

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Fergie faces up to gruelling Euro trips

August 28, 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United’s gruelling Champions League trips to Turkish champions Besiktas and Russia’s CSKA Moscow make their group a tough proposition.

United were pitted against Besiktas, CSKA Moscow and German champions Wolfsburg in Thursday’s draw for the group stages of Europe’s elite club competition.

Besiktas won the Turkish title for the first time in six years last season, while CSKA are Russian’s league and cup holders.

While none of those teams have United’s experience in the Champions League, the 2009 runners-up won’t be looking forward to two long journeys and the prospect of having to returning to domestic league action while still drained from the flight home.

“These are difficult ties, especially the trips to Russia and Turkey,” Ferguson told United’s website.

“CSKA have developed strongly in the last few years and games in Turkey are always difficult.”

United, who were beaten 2-0 by Barcelona in last year’s final, avoided a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Old Trafford Real Madrid in a world record 80 million pounds transfer in June.

But Ferguson won’t underestimate any of the teams in United’s group, with Wolfsburg, who won the German title for the first time last season, a particular concern for the Premier League champions.

“We also know the quality that we’re up against with Wolfsburg, with what they achieved in the Bundesliga last season,” Ferguson added.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Chelsea will be strong under Ancelotti: Ferguson

August 7, 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United will face a stern test from Chelsea for the title following Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea finished seven points adrift of champions United last season after starting the season with Luiz Felipe Scolari at the helm and ending it with Guus Hiddink in temporary charge.

Hiddink has since left to concentrate on his role as coach of Russia with Ancelotti, who steered AC Milan to two Champions League triumphs, the new man in charge.

Ferguson faces Ancelotti in Sunday’s Community Shield – the traditional curtain raiser to the new season – when the Premier League champions face FA Cup winners Chelsea.

The United boss said he respected Ancelotti and expects the Italian to be a success at Chelsea.

Ferguson also believes that Chelsea’s decision to reject offers from Manchester City this summer for John Terry will also aid the London club.

“Carlo will take up the baton from Guus Hiddink,” said Ferguson on Friday.

“Although Carlo has his own system of playing, which he used at AC Milan for 20 years, with a diamond in the middle, Chelsea have a lot of experience and a lot of terrific players.

“Chelsea will be strong.”

Ferguson added: “Keeping John Terry will make them stronger, no doubt about that.

“He’s experienced, he’s England’s captain and he’s a good centre half.”

United are chasing a fourth straight title this season yet have been overshadowed by neighbours Manchester City in the transfer market this summer.

While City have spent around 100 million pounds (167 million dollars) on new players, United have invested 20 million (33.4 million dollars).

Ferguson is intrigued to discover how City will get on this season but does not expect them to break into the top four.

“I think ourselves, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are looking at what is happening at Manchester City with great interest,” added Ferguson.

“We’re all looking to see whether it will work or not after the money they have spent.

“There’s a lot of interest in that from all of us.

“It’s difficult to break into the top four with the consistency and quality that the top four have got.

“Don’t forget that over the last few years those teams have competed in semi-finals and finals of the European Cup.

“It’s a great consistency that.

“They’re talking about Barcelona and Real Madrid starting to dominate again (in europe) but I have my doubts on that.

“I think those four (Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal) are strong teams.”

United will be without Nemanja Vidic for the first two games of the season against Birmingham and Burnley because of a calf injury.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Fergie´s old guard keep United buzzing

February 20, 2009

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) – Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United’s unquenchable thirst for success is built on the example set by his old stagers.

The reigning Premier League, European and world champions are on course for another trophy-filled season and it is United’s more senior members who are providing the impetus.

Last season, United’s double triumph owed much to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. But now over-30s like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville are rolling back the years with some influential displays.

Long-serving winger Giggs and England right-back Neville have both been rewarded with new one-year contract extensions for their efforts and Ferguson said: "These lads are the spirit of Manchester United.

"If any young player asks how they can keep playing until they are 35 they can look at those three players with confidence.

"Their performance level and drive has never changed. They will never play anywhere else but here and we will see what happens next season because if they keep their performance level up they will be here for another year."

Neville’s new deal represents a major triumph for the 34-year-old after he spent almost 18 months on the sidelines battling a broken ankle, followed by various serious muscular problems.

"Gary never had the talent of Ryan or Paul. But he has this determination to make sure he will always be in the team. Every training session he always tries to improve," Ferguson said.

"To come back the way he did after 18 months out was absolutely fantastic. There was a great concern for him because, after so long, it is not that easy.

"But it is a demonstration that he is never going to give in. He is an amazing man."

United host Blackburn on Saturday having dropped just two points at home all season, won their last nine games and not conceded a goal in 14 – a run which will give Edwin van der Sar a European record if it reaches the 89th minute of match number 15.

A win would move them eight points clear of Liverpool, who face Manchester City at home on Sunday, and Ferguson concedes they are on pole position.

"You should not get carried away because this game can bite you," Ferguson said.

"What happened in 1998 should be a great reminder for us about going the whole road and not taking rests.

"We don’t need one anyway. These lads are young, fit and fresh. They can go the distance. We just have to make sure we keep our focus on every game."

United’s attempt to retain the title has been helped by Chelsea’s implosion. Ferguson expects new manager Guus Hiddink to take several weeks to restore the club’s equilibrium after replacing Luiz Felipe Scolari, which will leave the Blues out of the running.

"When a new manager comes in, it does take him a bit of time to get things going," reflected Ferguson.

"There is no doubt Guus Hiddink has absolutely fantastic experience and has also had great success. But 10 points behind Manchester United at this point in the season is a lot.

"They have their work cut out, not just to overcome us but to overcome Liverpool too. If those two were the ones challenging for the league, Liverpool would fancy themselves."

Writen by: AFP

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Man Utd boss expects title boost from Japan success

December 24, 2008

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) – Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United’s success in winning the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan can propel the team towards retaining the English Premier League title.

The European champions added the global crown to their honours list by defeating Ecuador’s Liga de Quito in Yokohama last Sunday, with Wayne Rooney netting the winning goal for Ferguson’s side.

Having now returned to Old Trafford, however, United face a testing trip to Stoke City on Friday as they bid to close the seven-point gap on current league leaders Liverpool.

But having become world champions in Japan, United manager Ferguson expects the confidence generated by that achievement to boost the club’s prospects of winning more trophies in the second half of the season.

"I hope that happens," he told reporters at United’s training ground here Wednesday.

"There is no question that winning in Japan has given the club and the players a great boost. It was a great achievement.

"The most important thing is that the team played well, which was surprising really because a lot of the players found that their sleep patterns weren’t quite so good over there," the Scot added.

"That proved a bit difficult, but nonetheless, the lads showed good enthusiasm during the games and good concentration, which was the key thing.

"We have come through it well and put in some good performances.

"After the game against Quito, the players had a great time together.

"We were up early the next morning to get away, so not many slept too well, but they had their time together and that was good for them."

During their nine-day stay in Japan, United watched as Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all failed to collect maximum points from their two Premier League games during that period.

And Ferguson admits that the failings of United’s rivals gives his side, who have two games in hand on their fellow title contenders, a real chance of claiming top spot in the New Year.

He said: "A similar thing happened when we went to Brazil for the world championship in 2000. While we were away, our title rivals Arsenal and Leeds both failed to get a win.

"I wasn’t surprised that Arsenal and Liverpool drew with each other, but I was a bit worried about Chelsea going to Everton, simply because of Everton’s record of not having won for 20 games against Chelsea.

"I would obviously rather be top on Christmas Day, but I always wanted to be close to the leaders going into the New Year and we have managed that.

"Teams chasing the title always drop points in March and April, even when you don’t expect them to do so, and that will happen again this year.

"But we have nine games coming up in the next month and, fortunately, we have the squad to cope with that."

Written by: AFP