Man City have more to lose in derby semi: Ferguson

January 19, 2010

Sir Alex Ferguson has tried to up the pressure on Manchester City by claiming their League Cup semi-final against Manchester United matters more to them than to his team.

United travel to Eastlands for the weather-delayed first leg on Tuesday with their local rivals desperate to end their long wait for silverware.

City have not appeared in the final of a major tournament since 1981 and have not lifted a trophy since winning the League Cup in 1976.

By contrast Ferguson has presided over the most successful period in United’s history with 11 league titles, two European Cups and five FA Cups among the trophies the Scot has brought to Old Trafford since joining from Aberdeen 24 years ago.

However, expectations at City have multiplied since they were taken over by the wealthy Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008 and they hope to break into the Champions League places this season at the very least.

“A semi-final against United when they haven’t been in a final for so long is the biggest motivation City could have so far this season,” Ferguson said.

“So it’s a bigger, more important game for them than us,” he added. “It’s a game for the fans and their emotions.”

Ferguson has already confirmed the likes of Darron Gibson and Rafael and Fabio da Silva are likely to feature against Roberto Mancini’s team.

And while he is keen to give some players a break, he insists he is not taking the tie lightly and intends to be in a strong position going into the home leg.

“You don’t underestimate these things and I’ll pay particular attention to it. Once you?re in a semi-final, you want to be in the final. We want to be in a healthy position back at Old Trafford for the second leg,” he said.

Ferguson is likely to be without Dimitar Berbatov, who may need surgery on his knee problem, and the game is likely to come too soon for Rio Ferdinand to recover from his calf injury.

Mancini goes into this match on the back of his first defeat as City manager, following his team’s 2-0 league loss away to Everton on Saturday.

But City midfielder Nigel de Jong hopes striker Carlos Tevez’s desire to prove Ferguson wrong after being released by United and then signed by their Manchester rivals at the end of last season will work in the home team’s favour.

The Argentina forward has scored 15 goals for City so far this season and de Jong said: “Every player needs to be loved. I don’t know what Carlos’s situation was at Old Trafford. I’m just glad he’s here.”

United and City shared seven goals in a Manchester derby thriller in September with reigning league champions United triumphing 4-3 thanks only to Michael Owen’s stoppage-time winner.

“People still talk about what happened at Old Trafford in the league, but that game is in the past, we don’t want to keep looking back,” de Jong said.

“This is a new game. We want to look to the future,” the Dutchman added.

Instead de Jong said he thought United’s recent shock FA Cup exit at the hands of third-tier Leeds United would be of more relevance to the outcome of the tie.

“I don’t know whether their manager is going to play his full-strength team or his reserves after their FA Cup misery!,” de Jong said. “It’s up to Ferguson, he’s the manager and he knows his squad the best.

“I don’t think it is a sign of disrespect if he doesn’t pick his strongest team. He made it clear at the beginning of the Carling (League) Cup that he would try to rest players because other competitions were more important.

“But it is a semi-final and they are playing a derby against their biggest rivals,” he added.

“It’s a semi-final, one of the biggest games for City in a few years, so we have to do our best to reach the final, whoever it is we play against.”

Aston Villa appear in control of the other semi-final after a 1-0 first-leg win away to Blackburn Rovers.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: 24 years, berbatov, calf injury, da silva, darron gibson, fa cups, knee problem, league titles, long wait, manchester city, manchester united, old trafford, rio ferdinand, roberto mancini, Scot, sir alex ferguson, united group, united travel

Big guns return as United face Hammers test

December 5, 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson is poised to recall his big guns when Manchester United travel to Upton Park on a mission to keep in touch with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table.

Ferguson fielded a youthful side in the midweek League Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford and was rewarded as the likes of Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson, Federico Macheda, Gabriel Obertan and Ritchie de Laet impressed in United’s comfortable passage to the semi-finals.

The Scot has been full of praise for those who have stepped up to the plate, and critical of those who who have dared to suggest the players in question might not meet the high standards required at Old Trafford.

Yet it is doubtful Ferguson will trust any of them enough to hand them regular exposure to the tough demands of the Premier League, mainly because United’s margin for error in the title race is minimal given the five-point advantage Chelsea currently hold at the top of the table.

The exception could be Gibson, whose two goals in midweek have presented Ferguson with a selection dilemma.

The Ireland midfielder has shown he is ready for a continued run in the team but the problem Ferguson faces is accommodating him in an area of the side where he is spoilt for choice.

The recent form of Anderson and Michael Carrick has dipped and these two could be the most vulnerable should Ferguson decide to hand Gibson another chance to impress in a line-up that will see Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher and possibly Paul Scholes return.

Veteran defender Gary Neville believes the midweek display against Spurs was proof that United have another golden generation of young stars on their books and he argued that those on the fringes should now be considered an integral part of United’s first team squad.

“I don’t think they’re younger players,” Neville said. “They’re playing for their countries and they deserve to be there by right.

“They’re Premier League players of that quality, although they’re obviously developing.

“It’s going to be difficult to go all the way in the League Cup, but we’re in the semi-finals again and we want to continue to do well this year.”

Having struggled badly earlier in the season, West Ham have moved out of the relegation zone by winning two of their last four matches and, like Ferguson, manager Gianfranco Zola is reaping the benefit of giving homegrown young players their chance.

Few of the Hammers proteges have impressed more than winger Zavon Hines, who is relishing the chance to test himself against the champions.

The Jamaican-born forward is not lacking in confidence and insists he will not be overawed by the reputations of the players he will come up against on Saturday.

“I am looking forward to the game and it doesn’t matter who you play. When Arsenal came here we were really up for it and came back from 2-0 down so I’m happy to take on anyone.

“Every time I come on I feel happy because not a lot of people get into my position. Playing for West Ham is a big thing for me and every time I play I get more confidence.”

Hines is set to start on Saturday with West Ham’s England striker Carlton Cole sidelined by a knee ligament injury. Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami is also out and Zola is sweating on the availability of Matthew Upson, who is struggling with a hamstring problem.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Anderson, big guns, CHELSEA, cup victory, Danny Welbeck, darren fletcher, darron gibson, England, federico macheda, Gabriel Obertan, gary neville, golden generation, Ireland, london, Manchester, matthew upson, Michael, Michael Carrick, Neville, old trafford, Paul, point advantage, ryan giggs, Scot, sir alex ferguson, united travel, upton park, wayne rooney, welbeck, west ham, young stars, youthful side, Zola

Arsenal face Liverpool in League Cup

September 26, 2009

Arsenal will face Liverpool in the League Cup fourth round’s glamour tie, while holders Manchester United travel to Championship club Barnsley.

Arsene Wenger’s latest crop of young starlets are certain to be on show against the Reds at the Emirates Stadium.

Meanwhile, new Barnsley boss Mark Robins, a former Manchester United striker, will take on his old club at Oakwell hoping the Tyles can replicate their FA Cup run of 2008 when they knocked out two of the Premier League’s ‘big four’ in the shape of Liverpool and Chelsea.

Saturday’s draw also sent Peterborough to Blackburn and Scunthorpe head to Eastlands to face Manchester City.

There are four other all Premier League meetings, with Chelsea hosting Bolton, Aston Villa visiting Sunderland, Portsmouth entertaining Stoke and Tottenham at home to Everton.

4th round:

Blackburn v Peterborough

Manchester City v Scunthorpe

Tottenham v Everton

Barnsley v Manchester United

Chelsea v Bolton

Sunderland v Aston Villa

Arsenal v Liverpool

Portsmouth v Stoke

Ties to be played the week commencing October 26.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: arsene wenger, aston villa, barnsley, CHELSEA, Emirates Stadium, FA Cup, league meetings, Liverpool, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, mark robins, oakwell, october 26, peterborough, Portsmouth, premier league, reds, striker, Sunderland, tyles, united travel, young starlets

Fergie warns more to come from Man Utd

September 25, 2009

Alex Ferguson has warned the rest of the Premier League that Manchester United have yet to hit their best form this season.

United travel to Stoke on Saturday sitting in second place in the table behind Chelsea and in a position most managers would be more than happy with at this stage of the campaign.

But Ferguson is still smarting at the champions’ loss to Burnley at Turf Moor in August, even though his side have reeled off six straight wins in all competitions since that shock setback.

So far, there has been little evidence of United suffering from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid in the summer and their manager adamant his squad will get better in October.

“We had a bad start, there’s no doubt about that, but the form of the team has been coming on well,” the Scot said at his weekly press conference on Friday.

“Our best performance was at White Hart Lane (a 3-1 win over Tottenham). I’m happy with our form now. We have the squad and my only dilemma is who to play.

“Usually October sees us become more consistent and hopefully that will be the case again.

“The squad is a strong one and my only problems seems to be who to pick for each game.”

One person guaranteed to be involved is Ryan Giggs, who has shown the form of his life in recent weeks to defy the fact he is entering the twilight of his career.

Ferguson is full of praise for the 35-year-old and believes he is playing some of the best football of his career.

He said: “I don’t know what more there is to say about him! It’s not a matter of defying age with him because there has been no deterioration in his game at all and it’s remarkable.

“It’s down to how he has lived his life, how he has looked after himself and done the right things and his form is just as good as it was last year.”

Ferguson is expecting a tough encounter at Stoke, where manager Tony Pulis has created a side well on the way to becoming established in the Premier League.

Having avoided relegation with some comfort last season, Stoke have twice as many points than they did at this stage last year and Ferguson is impressed.

“What can you say about them? They are a club that is really on the way up.

“They are a well run club and their home record was very good last year. It won’t be an easy game. I’m not surprised. They’ve got fantastic support. People say its the noisiest place in the country and I wouldn’t disagree with that.

“Coming up from the Championship is never easy, but when I was there last season I noticed a marked change in the club. They have a good management structure and chairman and I think they will become a force.”

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: alex ferguson, best football, best performance, CHELSEA, deterioration, dilemma, game one, Hart Lane, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, no doubt, premier league, real madrid, ronaldo, ryan giggs, Scot, setback, strong one, tony pulis, turf moor, united travel, white hart lane

Ferdinand fitness doubt for Man Utd

May 20, 2009

MANCHESTER (AFP) – Sir Alex Ferguson admitted on Wednesday that Rio Ferdinand is likely to have to prove his fitness against Hull to stand a chance of featuring in next week’s Champions League final.

England defender Ferdinand, 30, has missed the last three United matches with a calf problem.

United travel to the KC Stadium on Sunday for their final Premier League fixture with the title already won.

Ferguson was hoping to field a reserve team to keep his key men fresh for the game against Barcelona in Rome on Wednesday.

The United manager maintains that he would be happy for youngster Jonny Evans, 21, who has regularly stood in for Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic this season, to play in the final.

And he acknowledges there would be a risk of playing Ferdinand against the Spanish champions after a three-week lay-off.

United are optimistic that Ferdinand will return to training on Thursday but Ferguson is still unsure about his chances of playing against Barcelona.

He said: “I’m hoping that he’ll be fit for Sunday and if he’s not then he’s doubtful for Wednesday.

“To go into the Champions League without playing for three weeks is too much so hopefully he’ll be fit for Sunday.

“We hope he can start training with us on Thursday and after the transfer to football training we’ll have a better idea about his availability for Sunday.

“I think he will probably be fit before Wednesday but whether I’d start him without a game is another matter.

“I’m close to knowing the team. Obviously you have to assess the performance, our own strengths and the form players.

“It would be no problem at all to start with Jonny Evans against Barcelona.

“He’s had a fantastic season and he grew up with Gerard Pique and it would be fitting if they’re both playing in the final.

“I’m sure Gerard Pique will be playing. It’d be a nice touch. I wouldn’t worry one bit about him playing in the final.”

The match has been billed as a potential classic with two of the most attack-minded teams pitting their wits against each other.

Ferguson accepts that Champions League finals rarely live up to their hype but is confident it will be an attractive match against Pep Guardiola’s side.

He added: “The profile of the final is very good and I hope it lives up to that profile.

“The players that Barcelona have got and Manchester United have got, it suggests a good final and I hope it lives up to that.

“European finals can be disappointing and if you look at the results over the years there were some really disappointing games and results, penalty kicks.

Veteran winger Ryan Giggs could be set for a third Champions League final appearance in the last decade.

And the 35-year-old midfielder, who has now won 11 Premier League titles, believes that United are now starting to show maturity after they were written off during a period of Chelsea dominance four years ago.

He said: “We have the players to get to a Champions League final. Maybe four years ago the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney had just come to the club and hadn’t matured into the players that they are now.

“They’re world-class players now and together with the other players that the manager has brought in, we’ve just got better and better since then.

Giggs is also optimistic about the chances of an open game next Wednesday.

He said: “I hope it’s a free-flowing game and there are lots of goals but sometimes the teams cancel each other out and I hope that’s not the case.

“Hopefully we keep their danger men quiet and the players that are match winners for us, perform.”

Tags: Barcelona, champions league final, CHELSEA, England, English Premier League, Ferdinand, fitness, gerard pique, kc stadium, key men, league fixture, Manchester, match, Nemanja, nemanja vidic, premier league, Rio, ROME, ronaldo, ryan giggs, sir alex ferguson, spanish champions, united travel, Wayne, wits, youngster

Fergie expects United to deliver knockout blow

May 5, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Arsenal that Manchester United only need one goal to kill off Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final.

United travel to the Emirates Stadium with a 1-0 lead from last week’s first leg and Ferguson knows an away goal would leave Arsenal needing to score three times to reach the final in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

After opting for a cautious approach at Old Trafford, Arsene Wenger’s Gunners will have to play a more open game this time and, with so many attacking stars at his disposal, Ferguson is confident United will be able to land the knockout blow.

“We have the lead and we are only one kick away from Rome. It is a big incentive for us,” Ferguson said at his pre-match press conference on Monday.

“We have to go there with the intent of trying to score. It is important to have a threat. Hopefully we do score and I think we have the ability to.

“If we got the away goal then Arsenal would have to score three. That would put us in a strong position.

“It’s normal that the team who plays away in the first leg operates differently at home so we expect Arsenal to attack us. That might suit us although I would rather they defended all night!”

Ferguson has a long-held belief that United’s total of three European Cups is not enough for a club of their stature.

With United, who beat Chelsea on penalties in last season’s final, just 90 minutes away from their second successive appearance in the final, Ferguson admitted he has a burning desire to enjoy more European success before he retires.

“My biggest regret is we haven’t won it more times,” he said. “We have a terrific history but it is not the same as AC Milan, Real Madrid, Liverpool or Bayern Munich or Ajax. We have regrets about that.

“I’ve got long enough to do it. Whether I take too long to do it I don’t know.”

If United retain the trophy they will become the first club in the Champions League era to win the tournament in back to back years.

Ferguson, who is boosted by the return to fitness of defenders Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, added: “It is strange that no European winner has defended the trophy. I don’t know why that is but we are good at firsts at United and it is a challenge for us.”

Although Ferguson always gives the impression of complete confidence going into any major match, the Scot is well aware that United have an unfortunate habit of falling at the penultimate hurdle in Europe.

Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan have all eliminated United in the Champions League semi-finals during Ferguson’s reign and he admitted those defeats will ensure there is no complacency in his ranks.

“At this stage of the Champions League you can’t be complacent,” he said. “We had a spell after winning it in 1999 that was disappointing. That’s why we had to change our thinking about the way we approached certain games.

“There have been times in the last few years when we’ve thrown semi-finals away. The Borussia Dortmund semi-final was an absolute throw away. We had so many chances to win the tie, it was amazing how we didn?t win it.

“There were other occasions like the Leverkusen game we got a bit nervous in the first game and were very, very unlucky in the second game.

“But there has been a good consistency about us in the last couple of years of course.

“You have to have far better concentration away. We are capable of that. It is a great credit to our back four. When they really concentrate in the big games they are usually very good.”

Key to United’s dominance in the first leg was the powerful display of midfield trio Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Anderson.

Carrick is well aware a repeat performance would go a long way to sealing United’s place in the final.

“The midfield is a key department, games can be won and lost in that area,” he said. “We played pretty well in the first leg so I was quite satisfied. But last week has gone. We’ve got to start afresh and do the right things again.”

Tags: ac milan, Ajax, Anderson, Bayern, bayern munich, burning desire, cautious approach, champions league, CHELSEA, darren fletcher, Emirates Stadium, English Premier League, Europe, Ferguson, gunners, knockout blow, Liverpool, london, MADRID, Manchester, Michael Carrick, Milan, old trafford, open game, patrice evra, real madrid, regrets, Rio, ROME, Scot, sir alex ferguson, stadio olimpico, stature, terrific history, united travel, Wenger

Fergie expects United to deliver knockout blow

May 5, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Arsenal that Manchester United only need one goal to kill off Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final.