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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists Premier League failures in Champions League are a 'blip'

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:12:48 GMT

With Chelsea and Arsenal suffering defeats against Napoli and AC Milan respectively over the past week in their last 16, first-leg ties in Italy, the Premier League could be without a representative in the last eight of the Champions League for the first time since the 1995-96 season should both clubs fail to qualify after next month’s return fixtures.

English football’s Champions League quartet was halved before Christmas with both United and Manchester City surprisingly exiting the competition at the group stage. United, with Wayne Rooney sidelined with a throat infection, are expected to secure a place in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday night by overcoming Ajax at Old Trafford following last Thursday’s 2-0 first-leg victory in Amsterdam.

But despite Manchester’s demotion to the Europa League and London’s recent Champions League humiliation, Ferguson claims that English football is well placed to bounce back from this season’s unsuccessful campaign. “Success in Europe can sometimes go in cycles,” Ferguson said.

“Spain had a great cycle about 10 years ago when Valencia, Deportivo la Coruna, Villarreal, Real Madrid and Barcelona were all dominant.”Three of them reached the semi-finals in 2000, when Real Madrid won the competition. “We’ve had a great cycle in the Premier League for the eight years with teams getting to semi-finals and finals,” Ferguson added.

“I don’t see that subsiding. I think the English teams will continue to be dominant. “We’ve had a bad year this year — United have in particular — but with Arsenal and Chelsea, disappointing results though they’ve had, both clubs have had injury problems and you cannot expect them to get the best results without their best teams.”

Ferguson added that “it has maybe been a disappointing season” for the Premier League, “but to my mind, it’s not definite that we’re on the slide. We made mistakes and, if you make mistakes, you suffer.
“But we are where we are and all we will try to do is to do well in the Europa League.”The presence of United and City — the Premier League’s top two — in the Europa League has prompted the possibility of an all-Manchester final in Bucharest on May 9. But despite the strength of the two teams, Ferguson insists that their rivals in Uefa’s second tier competition should not be underestimated.

“Manchester City are obviously a big rival to us in this competition,” Ferguson said. “But you have to pay attention to all those teams that have come into the Europa League from the Champions League.“If we get through this tie, we have a real difficult one in the next round. "Athletic Bilbao have a fantastic home record and I would expect them to win their tie against Lokomotiv Moscow.

“That will be a very tough game for us, but you also have to recognise that there are a lot of teams of a very good standard. “Neither ourselves nor City expected to be where we are, but we both want to win this competition. It would be a good final, that.”Ryan Giggs, who missed last week’s first-leg through injury, could make his 900th senior appearance for United if he appears against Ajax on Thursday night.

The 38 year-old could be rested ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Norwich with Ferguson keen to hand Tom Cleverley and Anderson game time following recent injuries. But Ferguson admits that Giggs is on the brink of an impressive milestone, saying that in the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow “he beat Bobby Charlton’s appearance record that night and you are now talking about more than 100 games on. “It’s phenomenal. He keeps defying his age. This season he’s been just the same as he was in Moscow. Nothing’s changed really.”

Ferguson, meanwhile, has confirmed that Michael Owen is close to returning to full fitness after almost four months out with a thigh injury sustained against Otelul Galati last November. Owen trained alone doing light jogging on Wednesday, but Ferguson is confident that the former England forward will be available next month.

Ferguson said: “Michael is training very well. In his injury situation, and with his record of injury, we have to make sure he has to do full preparation before joining us. “But I reckon he will be joining us in two weeks’ time.”Manchester United (probable, 4-3-3): De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Jones, Fabio; Cleverley, Anderson; Park; Young, Welbeck, Hernandez. Ajax (probable, 4-3-3): Vermeer; Anita, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Koppers; De Jong, Aissati, Eriksen; Ozbiliz, Bulykin, Suleijmani.

Man United's cash reserves fall by $158 million?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:29:37 GMT

Manchester United’s cash reserves fell by 100 million pounds ($158 million) in six months partially to finance an investment in a roster failing to maintain the English champions’ dominance.

As a result of spending that also took in stadium improvements and a bond repurchase program, the Old Trafford bank balance dropped from 150.6 million pounds to 50.9 million pounds ($238 million to $80 million) to Dec. 31, the club’s quarterly accounts revealed on Tuesday.

Despite net spending of 48 million pounds ($76 million) on new players, including goalkeeper David de Gea, defender Phil Jones and winger Ashley Young, United failed to advance past the first round of the Champions League and has been eliminated from both domestic cups. Meanwhile, neighbor Manchester City holds two-point lead in the Premier League.

United spent 5.3 million pounds ($8.4 million) in the three months ending Dec. 31 buying back bonds that were issued two years ago to raise 504 million pounds (then $762 million) to replace long-term financing and reduce debts to hedge funds.

United has spent 92.8 million pounds ($147 million) repurchasing that debt — more than the 80 million pounds (then $130 million) received from Real Madrid in 2009 for the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The club’s debt, resulting from the 2005 takeover by the American Glazer family, stood at 439 million pounds ($694 million) at the end of 2011 and incurred almost 24.5 million pounds ($39 million) in interest payments in six months. Although the debt was down from the 508 million pounds at the end of 2010 it rose again in the final three months of 2011 by 6 million pounds ($9.5 million).

However, United’s moneymaking abilities appear to be undiminished, with 175 million pounds ($277 million) in revenue in the six months ending Dec. 31 — up more than 10 percent on the same period a year earlier due largely to a rise in TV income and a new training jersey sponsorship deal with express delivery and freight firm DHL.

“Revenues continue to grow strongly although costs are increasing just as quickly so pretty much negating that growth,’’ the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust said in a statement. “However the key figures of interest to supporters show the Glazers have now spent every penny of the money received from the sale of Ronaldo, and more.

“That’s now 92.8 million pounds spent on buying back their own bond debt that they loaded onto our club.’’MUST said that since Ronaldo’s departure, net transfers totaled 90 million pounds ($142 million) while 225 million pounds ($356 million) had been taken out of the club to cover debt payments and interest.

“What could the club have done with that extra 225 million pounds? Cheaper tickets for loyal fans, investing massively in the squad and stadium, developing and retaining the best youth players, competing on an equal basis with the very best teams in Europe,’’ MUST said. “This is the true cost to Manchester United of the Glazers’ ownership.’’

Manchester United players seek assurance that Sir Alex Ferguson is staying before signing new deals

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:15:42 GMT

Ferguson says he intends to remain at the helm for at least ‘two or three more years” before thinking about retirement. He also expects to continue at the club in some capacity beyond his coaching career as he is likely to influence the identity of his successor. Although he refuses to set a timetable for his departure from the dug-out, Ferguson admits the expectation he may soon move aside has impacted on contract talks with his players.

“They all ask,” said Ferguson, in a Radio 5 Live interview. “The players or their agents ask the chief executive and the way David [Gill] answers is I have no intention of retiring at the moment and therefore it’s not a question we need to answer, because we do not know. We’ve never discussed who would take over. That is a dangerous game. We need someone with experience at United. No doubt.”

There is little to suggest Ferguson intends stepping down in the near future. He changed his mind about retiring in 2002 when he first intended to move into a directors’ role. He now says when he does go, he wants to leave with United as Premier League champions. “You don’t want to go out in an era when you’re not successful,” he said. “You always want to go out on a winning note. I think you need stamina in my job. I’m blessed with that. If my health stays up, another two or three years won’t hurt me.

“I think there will be a role at United after I finish. I’ll know when I’m not enjoying it. “If I was coming to United today from Aberdeen, I’d struggle, because of the beast it is. When I came we were in a bit of a valley and bottoming out. "Liverpool were the dominant team winning all the titles and United were well adrift of that, so we had to build the football club. It wasn’t easy and it took time. I had success at Aberdeen which gave me confidence I could do it, and time.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson has revealed his regret at passing up the chance to sign Manchester City’s Joe Hart for a bargain fee earlier in his career. Hart joined City from Shrewsbury in 2006 and has become England’s first-choice goalkeeper. Ferguson believes he is now the best keeper this country has produced in two decades. “I could have bought Joe Hart for £100,000 so we all make mistakes,” he said. “I’ve no doubt [that Hart will be England goalkeeper for the next 10 years]. If you look at the England goalkeeper situation for the last 20 years, I would think he’s easily the best.”

Ferguson also revealed how he reassured Rio Ferdinand when the defender was stripped of the England armband. “When the captaincy was taken away from him I told him you have to put it out of your mind,” said Ferguson. “I said, ‘Don’t forget, it’s the same with us.

"I can’t have you as captain now because you may not be playing every week’. I told him, ‘You are not the same player as five years ago and need to adjust your game. Step back a yard’. That’s what you do with an ageing player. He is doing as well as ever now.”After 26 years at Old Trafford and a multitude of players under his command, Ferguson said there is one in particular he regrets not buying.

“I tried to sign Paul Gascoigne,” said Ferguson. “Since 1966 he’s the one star England has produced. He was unbelievable. I wish I could have got him and done something with him. “He could have played for Brazil. The mistake he made was going to London in his early twenties. Bryan Robson or Bobby Robson would have helped him a little bit here.”

Manchester United legend slams Arsenal after Sunderland defeat

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:56:49 GMT

Manchester United legend Roy Keane slammed Arsenal after their defeat to Sunderland, branding them sloppy. The Irishman said that he felt that this was the worst Gunners side he had ever seen and hit out at the Arsenal players who were wearing gloves.

“You’re on about trying to do well for your manager and once again they’re letting him down,” the Irishman told ITV. “This is probably the worst Arsenal team I’ve seen in all my time of watching football.” Keane also criticised the decision of most of the Arsenal team to wear gloves during the match.

“From the first minute when you see five or six of the Arsenal players wearing gloves, you’re talking about a reaction, you’re sending signals to the opposition,” he said. “I don’t think a footballer should wear gloves when they’re playing a professional football game.”“They’ve been sloppy, which led to the goal, there has been no focus to their passing. It’s been slow it’s been sideways, it’s been backwards.”

Injuries down Manchester United pair Giggs and Berbatov

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:58:23 GMT

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that injuries have forced Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov out of his plans for their Europa Cup clash Ajax. Ferguson was speaking at a press conference ahead of tonight's first-leg tie. It means Giggs will have to wait to make his 900th appearance for the club.

"Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov are injured," stated the manager. "We rested Patrice Evra. It was an emotional weekend for him so I think this is the right thing to do. It's a strong squad we've got here.

"Ryan got a knock in the first half against Liverpool on the ankle and Dimitar got an injury in training on Sunday. “I've got plenty of options up front with Wayne [Rooney], Chicha [Javier Hernandez] and Danny Welbeck. I could also play Ashley Young off the front or Nani through the middle. “It's better to leave him [Berbatov] behind. It's not a serious injury - he'd be available if I asked him to play - but I thought it better not to risk it, so I left him behind."

Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez relishing Ajax clash on 'Thursday night, Channel Five'

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:02:50 GMT

Striker Javier Hernandez accepts that Manchester United would have preferred to be in the premier Uefa competition this week. However, if they are to make their Europa League bow, there are few more famous names to do it against than the Dutch giants, who, with four European Cups to their name, have one more than United. "Both teams have come out of the Champions League and they both have a great history," said Hernandez. "We have won a lot of European Cups between us, so it will be a very interesting game. "We need to get used to the fact we are not in the Champions League this season.

"And the history of Manchester United is such that it doesn't matter which competition you are in, we want to win it, no matter who else is in it, or whether it is an important trophy for other teams."That Manchester City are potential opponents in the quarter-finals and beyond does give this European excursion added spice, even if a failure to beat Benfica or Basle in any of four group matches is not European form to get anyone worrying too much.

And, having maintained closer contact to City in the Premier League than most pundits expected on the night of that debacle in Switzerland, Sir Alex Ferguson may well take the opportunity to rest some key men before the domestic campaign resumes at Norwich on Feb 26.

That could offer an opportunity for Hernandez, whose appearances this term have been limited due to a combination of injury and Danny Welbeck's outstanding form. "It has been a little bit frustrating because I have been injured a lot," he said. "But there are some things you can't do anything about. "I am happy and I am still enjoying it. It is a privilege to play for Manchester United, whether things are going good or bad, I want to keep that attitude."

It is the kind of unselfishness Ferguson adores and Hernandez is genuinely delighted at Welbeck's emergence. "Danny Welbeck is a brilliant player," he said. "He is only young but he went to Sunderland and did great things there. Then he came back here and has been unbelievable. "That doesn't upset me, competition is normal at a club like this. You need to be at your best to help the team. That is the most important thing."

Manchester United 2 Liverpool FC 1: Luis Suarez's stunt was slap in face for all who stood by him

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:32:43 GMT

SO much for drawing a line in the sand. Liverpool Football Club were beaten at Old Trafford on Saturday but it was nothing compared to the pounding they took off the pitch. The damage done was so much greater than a dent in their hopes of Champions League qualification.

“The past is firmly behind,” said Kenny Dalglish at Melwood on the eve of the showdown with Manchester United. Unfortunately, Luis Suarez wasn’t listening. The striker’s failure to shake Patrice Evra’s hand before kick-off was a calamitous error of judgement. Suarez had the chance to douse the fire but instead opted to pour petrol on the flames.

Liverpool’s backing for the Uruguayan has been unequivocal since his notorious altercation with Evra at Anfield last October. Not any more. Suarez let his manager and the club down on Saturday. What he did was indefensible.

“We have spoken to him and I know he will shake the hand of Patrice Evra,” Dalglish said three days before the game. So what changed?

If Suarez had no intention of taking part in the pre-match pleasantries he should have made that abundantly clear beforehand. By snubbing Evra in such a fashion he heaped embarrassment on his employers who responded decisively yesterday by publicly criticising the player.

Managing director Ian Ayre pulled no punches and nor should he. Liverpool have been fiercely loyal to Suarez over the past four months. What they got in return for that on Saturday was a slap in the face.

When Reds owner John Henry reads in the New York Times a story headlined ‘Another Ugly Incident Mars Liverpool’s Good Name’, it’s fair to assume he’s deeply concerned about the club’s global reputation. Suarez’s apology was welcome but the latest controversy attached to him was so infuriatingly avoidable.

Manchester United falling behind Spanish clubs in 'money league'

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:05:14 GMT

Manchester United are falling behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in the 'money league' of the world's richest clubs, according to a new report. The report by the analysts Deloitte says that, although United's revenues continue to grow, they have not kept pace with the Spanish giants who have the advantage of being able to negotiate their individual TV rights deals.

United's failure to qualify from the group stage of the Champions League this season will see the gap widen further next year, says Deloitte.

Real Madrid remain top of the league with revenues in 2010-11 of €479 million (£438m), with Barcelona second on €451m and Manchester United third on €367m (£349m). The report states: "We are starting to see widening gaps between clubs at the top of the Money League.

"Manchester United's consistent on-pitch success has helped establish it as a continued fixture in the top three of the Money League, yet in recent years a gap has grown between themselves and the Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, rising again to €83.7m in this year's edition.

"United's failure to qualify for the 2011-12 Champions League knockout phase will have a detrimental effect on revenues relative to the top two, which may result in this gap increasing to over €100m.

"In addition, there is a €70m gap between fourth-placed Bayern Munich and fifth-placed Arsenal."Chelsea remain sixth in the money league but Liverpool have fallen a place to ninth behind Internazionale and the report states their lack of European football could see them drop out of the top 10 unless they at least qualify for the Europa League.

"The club [Liverpool] needs European football each year to maintain its status in the Money League top 10 in future editions," said the report. "In the medium to longer term the Warrior Sports kit deal will underpin further commercial revenue growth, whilst formulating a viable plan to either redevelop Anfield or move to a new home is key in driving matchday revenue increases."

Tottenham are 11th in the league, just in front of Manchester City thanks to last season's Champions League income, but the value of the huge Etihad sponsorship deal, which could total £400m, should see City break into the top 10 next year.

Alan Switzer, a director of Deloitte's sports business group, said: "The club's heavy squad investment secured Champions League football for 2011-12. When combined with the ground-breaking 10-year partnership with Etihad, this will provide substantial growth across all three revenue sources and will see City break into the top 10 in the Money League next year."

Manchester United fans ready to ratchet up the abuse for Luis Suarez and Liverpool

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:46:37 GMT

And those who follow United predict that the recent fall-out of the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra spat is likely to inform most of what Kenny Dalglish refers to as “the banter” between the two sets of supporters. “There is much in common between United and Liverpool fans, far more than anyone on either side would admit to,” says Andy Mitten, editor of the fanzine United We Stand.

“But on this one there is absolutely no common ground. Liverpool fans seem to think the world is out to get them. United fans think Suarez was out of order and has been rightly punished.”But Mitten believes the virulence of the response has been intensified by Liverpool’s response to the claims of racial abuse by their star forward. “I have yet to meet a United fan who doesn’t think Dalglish and his club have handled it very badly,” he says.

Normally there is a grudging respect among United fans for Liverpool; the history, the fan culture, players like Steven Gerrard are all privately admired by many. But on this, all respect has gone. "That’s not tribal. I think everyone outside Liverpool FC thinks that.”And he adds that the recent FA Cup tie between the two clubs at Liverpool served to ratchet up the animosity. “At Anfield the United fans were all mocking the public address announcement about Liverpool taking zero tolerance to racist abuse.

"They were taking pictures of the signs around the ground asking fans to report any abuse they might hear. Because Patrice Evra did just that and what did he get? "He got called a liar by the club and had 40,000 people booing him. For what? For being the victim of racial abuse? How can anyone seriously defend that?
“So Suarez will get dog’s abuse on Saturday. It will be partly revenge for that, partly because of what he did, partly because he plays for Liverpool. The chant “racist bastard” to his signature tune will be sung all round the ground. "And Dalglish will get booed too for his attitude in all this. Most United followers will believe he and the club brought it on themselves.”

Man United’s comeback outshines Suarez’s return

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:56:39 GMT

Two significant things happened in the England Premier League this weekend. The first was that Manchester United produced a typical Manchester United comeback to wrestle a point away at Chelsea – in a second-half performance bristling with determination and skilful, smart football.

The other was that Luis Suarez, a man who – it has to be said – has sparked an unwelcome tribalism on the terraces, played his first game of football since 26 December, having served an eight-match ban for racial abuse. Not that the Uruguayan was given an awful lot of time to make an impact at Anfield against an oddly cautious Tottenham side on Monday night.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish opted to start with Dirk Kuyt instead, and the Dutchman repaid his manager’s faith with some heavy first touches and a general lack of finesse.

Suarez was booed raucously by the few thousand Tottenham fans who had travelled to Merseyside as he finally replaced Kuyt with 24 minutes to go. And his first touch was excellent, almost helping carve out an opportunity.

Then, his lack of match fitness betrayed him. A delayed pass to Andy Carroll spoiled a threatening Liverpool break; a free header from close range was guided meekly and directly at Spurs goalkeeper Brad Friedel. And somewhere in the middle of all that was a horrible kick at Scott Parker’s chest that one would expect to see only in a taekwondo bout.

Referee Michael Oliver had an excellent game and gave Suarez the benefit of the doubt, showing a yellow card (rather than a red one) almost apologetically as he surmised the number seven had been attempting to volley a dropping ball. It was hard to establish the level of intent.

Tottenham defended brilliantly at times. In addition, Friedel saved well from a Martin Kelly drive, and Carroll showed poor technique when smacking a half-volley over the bar.

But despite enjoying enough possession to make Alexander the Great blush, Liverpool could have lost the match when Gareth Bale broke free towards the end. The Welsh winger, in a strangely uncertain performance, hit his shot straight at Pepe Reina, and the result was a 0-0 stalemate.

So Liverpool are still four points, rather than a tantalising two, away from a Champions League spot that should really be theirs based on player expenditure alone. There had been a very different kind of draw on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.

Interestingly, Chelsea and United each had 10 shots on target in their encounter, the same as Liverpool produced. The difference was there were goals, three apiece. For so long, Chelsea enjoyed themselves, playing an interesting and fluid 4-2-3-1 formation in which Fernando Torres frequently drifted wide to collect the ball – and it made sense, given the propensity of the two wide men behind him,

Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda to drift into central positions. Whether Chelsea dominated United to the extent that a 3-0 lead was a deserved scoreline on 50 minutes was another matter, but what was clear was that the tactical battle between the two managers was overwhelmingly won by Sir Alex Ferguson from that point onwards.

Ferguson’s first move was to throw on Javier Hernandez, and use the Mexican’s blistering pace down the middle – with Wayne Rooney tucked in behind him – to push back Chelsea’s defenders. Danny Welbeck became a left-winger, and with Antonio Valencia surging down the right, United were suddenly a real threat.

But Ferguson needed more, and now utilised Paul Scholes in the middle, as Welbeck switched flanks. Valencia was asked to plug the gap left behind by the substituted defender Rafael and Ryan Giggs now operated on the left wing.

A more composed and more confident Chelsea side could have perhaps withstood the barrage, but many teams have crumbled when United have turned on the after-burners. Seeing the lead reduced to 3-2, and with 20 minutes to go, Andre Villas-Boas made his only substitution, and it simply conceded even more space, time and possession to United.

Oriol Romeu was the fresh pair of legs for Chelsea, but by plonking him in the centre of the park, Villas-Boas felt the need to push Juan Mata out wide. This placed huge pressure on the young substitute and meant Chelsea could no longer utilise Mata, so often their best player, where he was most effective.

With an air of inevitability, the United equaliser soon followed, Hernandez heading home from a Giggs cross. This was not a perfect weekend for United’s fans, however. Manchester City moved into a two-point lead at the top after a 3-0 win over Fulham.

United’s next match? Only a home game against Liverpool on Saturday, with Suarez surely primed to play from the start. I shouldn’t think for one second that Ferguson will decide to give Patrice Evra, the target of Suarez’s infamous outburst last October, a day off.