EPL ~ Sir Alex: It's the same old City
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It's the same old City, says Sir Alex Ferguson
Manchester United manager still sees Chelsea and Liverpool as main threats despite newfound wealth of neighbours
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Channel 27: "Live"
Manchester City may have succeeded in getting under Sir Alex Ferguson's skin with some of their grand statements since becoming flush with Arab wealth this season, but, to judge from his comments yesterday, the Manchester United manager views them as an irritation rather than a threat.
Holding court at United's training ground yesterday afternoon, Ferguson said that City's newfound riches had brought a “different focus” on Sunday's derby match at the City of Manchester Stadium, but he was for once looking through the eyes of the media rather than his preferred red-tinted glasses. From United's perspective, City may have won the past two derby meetings, may have been bought out by the the fabulously wealthy Abu Dhabi United Group and may, in Robinho, have a superstar to rival Cristiano Ronaldo, but they remain the same old City until such time as they prove otherwise.
When questioned about the growing “threat” of City, Ferguson could barely keep a straight face. “Excuse me, where are they at the moment?” he asked rhetorically, knowing that they lie eleventh in the Barclays Premier League, three points clear of the relegation zone. “At this moment in time, our threats are still Chelsea and Liverpool, who are sitting above us.”
Mark Hughes, the City manager would concur that his team are not yet in a position to threaten the established order of Manchester football, let alone world football, but he and the club's new owners are adamant that this will change.
City are confident of signing Lassana Diarra, the Portsmouth midfield player, and Roque Santa Cruz, the Blackburn Rovers forward, in January and have also made the first moves towards a highly ambitious bid to lure Gianluigi Buffon, arguably the world's finest goalkeeper, from Juventus. Such signings, albeit at exorbitant prices, would be expected to take City to another level, but Ferguson, ever willing to dish out friendly advice to the neighbours, warned them that there could be no such guarantees.
What Mark does with the money at City is for the future. I don't think January is ever the best time to buy players.”
A third successive Premier League title is threatening to be a tall order for United, who trail Chelsea and Liverpool by eight points, albeit having played a game fewer, but Ferguson said that “the second half of the season promises to be much better for us”, with Paul Scholes hoping to return to action next week, having recovered from knee surgery.
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true. hudges don seem to be the right man to take them to another higher level.
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I wonder why didi hamann started. He is not suitable to start against Man U, he is 35. He may have experience but thats all.