Sir Alex Ferguson says...

• limpper

  21 Jul 09, 14:42

  Man Utd boss Ferguson: Macheda can be as popular as Ronaldo

  Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson can see Federico Macheda becoming a big fans favourite.

  "Macheda is top drawer, a hero in the making, just as Cristiano was," said Ferguson.

  "It is hard to believe he is just 17. We probably need to check his birth certificate because I reckon he is at least 28."

  Macheda's public introduction to the United first team also included an FA Cup semi-final appearance against Everton.

  Little wonder there has been no sense of awe from the Italian as he mingles with the senior stars on the Red Devils' current Far East tour, and no sign of inferiority either in training, where his eye for goal is even sharper than that of legendary predator Michael Owen.

  "Federico has plenty of confidence," admitted Ferguson.

  "When he came on the other night he dropped into midfield and ran down their left-side.

  "He is a player all right - and tough as old boots. He can look after himself.

  "He does not have the lightning reactions of Ronaldo but he is quick around the box and he has an eye for goal.

  "He was way in front of everyone with his finishing the other day - and I mean everyone. It was magnificent to see."

• limpper

  21 Jul 09, 14:43

  Ferguson: How can Hughes manage 10 Man City strikers?

  Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned how Mark Hughes is going to manage Manchester City's all-star dressing room.

  "It won't be easy for them to win anything, even with all the players they have bought," said Ferguson, moving onto the whole City project.

  "They have bought a lot of high profile players but they have 10 strikers. That is a hell of a lot.

  "I have not spoken to all the managers but the one or two I have are saying 'Who are they going to leave out'?"

  "How do you tell players they are not even going to be travelling to London? How does he pick a team? We are all interested."

• limpper

  21 Jul 09, 14:44

  Man Utd boss Ferguson: We wanted Chelsea keeper Cech

  Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he considered signing Petr Cech before he moved to Chelsea.

  He told the Daily Mail: "I think Chelsea probably had a better nucleus. They bought well under Claudio Ranieri with Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Arjen Robben and so on. John Terry came through from the youth system, and they bought Petr Cech, very cheaply as it turned out, at 21.

  "We actually watched Cech, I watched him myself twice, and I thought, ‘nineteen years old, he’s a bit young’. But he was in the national team by the time he was 20. Looking back now, he’s maybe made about 10 mistakes in six years."

  So he’s one that got away?

  'Yeah, but at the time I was looking for someone to replace Peter Schmeichel."

• limpper

  21 Jul 09, 14:46

  Man Utd boss Ferguson: Wenger faces his biggest test at Arsenal

  Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes this season could be the greatest test of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's ability.

  "I see Chelsea and Liverpool as the main threats because they have the experience and they are consistent," he said.

  "They are hard to beat. That won't change. But I can't make up my mind about who is the better team. There is not much between them.

  "Arsenal have the biggest job to do because they have sold Adebayor and don't seem to have the money the rest have got.

  "How Arsene develops his team will be his biggest test.

  "The one thing we know about Arsenal is that they will play some of the best football you will see and they will create chances. They could easily re-establish themselves and challenge for the league again."

• ViNnO

  21 Jul 09, 15:02

  Macheda will be good but i dun think he can be like ronaldo.

  Mancity shall play 1-10, Gung-ho.