Ferguson adamant over United's title hopes

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed it would be 'ridiculous' to count Manchester United out of the Premier League title race just yet.

By Ferguson's own admission, the Red Devils have endured a nightmare start to their championship defence, netting just two points from their opening three games, scoring just once in the process.

It is a complete contrast to their flying start 12 months ago and having already slipped behind all their major rivals, some pundits are already suggesting United will not win the league this season.

However, while Ferguson accepts results have not been what he hoped for, the Scot is confident his side will soon be forcing their way back into contention, starting with a win over Tottenham at Old Trafford tomorrow.

'It is ridiculous to suggest we are out of the title race already because, let's face it, we are only three games into the season,' he said.

'I have certainly not lost faith in what we can do and we will change things around.

'The players have not enjoyed this nightmare. They know our rivals must be rubbing their hands and they are determined to do something about it.'

With Louis Saha likely to be on the bench and Brazil international Anderson pencilled in for his first start alongside Carlos Tevez in attack, Ferguson's early season injury problems are starting to ease.

Rumours of a move for Tottenham hit-man Dimitar Berbatov are likely to persist until the transfer window closes on August 31 but the forceful rebuttal of chief executive David Gill to renewed speculation that a bid had been made for the Bulgarian - who will miss tomorrow's clash with an ankle problem - suggests no deal is likely.

Instead, Ferguson will stick with a squad which has so far produced a significantly high level of performance, without being able to collect the results to match.

'I think you have to trust the players,' reflected Wes Brown, who will continue at right-back in the absence of injured skipper Gary Neville.

'If we were in this situation and not playing well maybe you have to look a bit deeper.

'But we have been playing good football, we have just not managed to put the ball in the net.'

Born and bred in Manchester, last week's derby-day loss to City hurt Brown more than most.

He has still not replied to the more sarcastic texts he received from Blue-supporting friends and still struggles to believe United did not emerge victorious.

'We could have beaten them by six,' he said.

'We pressurised them for most of the game but missed some really good chances and somehow they managed to keep us out.

'That kind of thing happens sometimes. All you can do is hold your hands up, try to do the same things in the next game and think a bit more positively about putting the ball in the net.'

Like his manager, Brown has insisted no-one at United should be getting too concerned about the present situation.

Not only is the England defender confident the Red Devils will turn the situation around, he also feels early evidence points to the so-called big four dropping more points this term than they have in previous years.

'Don't get me wrong, we don't want to be this far behind Chelsea already but no-one is too worried at the moment,' he said.

'As the season has gone on in previous years, we have always come back into it.

'I know it is easy for me to say that but history proves it has happened and it can happen again.

'I also think the middle ranking teams will take more points off the top four. There are a lot of teams now who have built up their squads and, as we have found out already, they will definitely give problems to the bigger teams.' Read more...

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Manchester United out of the Premier League title race just yet. By Ferguson's own admission, the Red Devils have endured a nightmare start to their championship defence, netting just two points from their opening three games, scoring just once in the process.

It is a complete contrast to their flying start 12 months ago and having already slipped behind all their major rivals, some pundits are already suggesting United will not win the league this season. However, while Ferguson accepts results have not been what he hoped for, the Scot is confident his side will soon be forcing their way back into contention, starting with a win over Tottenham at Old Trafford tomorrow.

``It is ridiculous to suggest we are out of the title race already because, let's face it, we are only three games into the season,'' he said. ``I have certainly not lost faith in what we can do and we will change things around. ``The players have not enjoyed this nightmare. They know our rivals must be rubbing their hands and they are determined to do something about it.''

With Louis Saha likely to be on the bench and Brazil international Anderson pencilled in for his first start alongside Carlos Tevez in attack, Ferguson's early season injury problems are starting to ease. Rumours of a move for Tottenham hit-man Dimitar Berbatov are likely to persist until the transfer window closes on August 31 but the forceful rebuttal of chief executive David Gill to renewed speculation that a bid had been made for the Bulgarian - who will miss tomorrow's clash with an ankle problem - suggests no deal is likely.

Instead, Ferguson will stick with a squad which has so far produced a significantly high level of performance, without being able to collect the results to match. ``I think you have to trust the players,'' reflected Wes Brown, who will continue at right-back in the absence of injured skipper Gary Neville.

``If we were in this situation and not playing well maybe you have to look a bit deeper. ``But we have been playing good football, we have just not managed to put the ball in the net.'' Born and bred in Manchester, last week's derby-day loss to City hurt Brown more than most.

He has still not replied to the more sarcastic texts he received from Blue-supporting friends and still struggles to believe United did not emerge victorious. ``We could have beaten them by six,'' he said. ``We pressurised them for most of the game but missed some really good chances and somehow they managed to keep us out.

``That kind of thing happens sometimes. All you can do is hold your hands up, try to do the same things in the next game and think a bit more positively about putting the ball in the net.'' Like his manager, Brown has insisted no-one at United should be getting too concerned about the present situation.

Not only is the England defender confident the Red Devils will turn the situation around, he also feels early evidence points to the so-called big four dropping more points this term than they have in previous years. ``Don't get me wrong, we don't want to be this far behind Chelsea already but no-one is too worried at the moment,'' he said.

``As the season has gone on in previous years, we have always come back into it. ``I know it is easy for me to say that but history proves it has happened and it can happen again. ``I also think the middle ranking teams will take more points off the top four. There are a lot of teams now who have built up their squads and, as we have found out already, they will definitely give problems to the bigger teams.''

Read more...

Ferguson blames boardroom 'hangers-on' for managerial sackings

MANCHESTER, England, Aug 25, 2007 (AFP) - Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has blamed boardroom 'hangers-on' for the high number of managerial casualties in the English game.

Martin Jol arrives at Old Trafford on Sunday with his long-term future as Tottenham manager hanging in the balance after being left in no doubt about the club's Champions League expectations at a meeting with chairman Daniel Levy.

Ferguson is an admirer of Jol's work as a coach in Holland and is dismayed that the Dutchman's position has been called into question so early in the season.

But with the Premier League champions yet to register a win this season, the Tottenham manager can expect no favours at Old Trafford.

Yet Ferguson has no doubt who he believes is responsible for costing many of his colleagues their jobs.

"It's just sad that there's such a knee jerk reaction in football today," said Ferguson.

"I don't know how many times I have sat here over the years and supported managers under pressure because you know it's not fair. But it doesn't change.

"There's no evidence that sacking a manager gets you success.

"I don't know where the root of it comes from. I know it's probably happened here from time to time.

"When I had a bad spell here people were saying I should have retired six years ago, I'm too old and all that nonsense.

"There's a root to criticism quickly in football today.

"If you look at the corporate hospitality of football today - you go into some boardrooms and there's only about four directors but 30 or 40 hangers-on.

"They (the hangers-on) are the ones who think they know everything and are the ones who are probably laying the seeds of it.

"When I came here at first they used to call it the second board. They used to meet on Monday in the Grill Room (at Old Trafford) and discuss everything that happened on the Saturday and make their opinions known. That was the way.

"That happens at football clubs and that maybe is where the seed is sewn.

"And so when somebody like Martin at a club with Tottenham's expectations has a bad spell the inevitable happens."

Ferguson is refusing to press the panic button despite failing to see his side win any of their first three games.

United start the weekend seven points adrift of the top of the table after two draws and a defeat, but believes it is only a matter of time before his side is firing on all cylinders again.

"We'll win the game on Sunday," said a confident Ferguson. "Tottenham are coming with a great determination to help their manager but with the ability in this team, (the winless run) can't continue for long, I'm sure of that."

United are without Gary Neville who has picked up a thigh strain in training, but Louis Saha could be on the bench after a knee injury.

"Louis gave us 15 goals in the first half of last season and if he'd continued playing he may probably have got to the 30 mark," said Ferguson.

"That was a big loss to us in the second half of last season and we just never got him back on the field. But he has been doing well in training for us in the last few weeks and if he does come back for us it is a big boost."

Tottenham have 18-year-old defender Gareth Bale and Teemu Tainio back to face United and Jol has not ruled Dimitar Berbatov out.

Bale, who has yet to start a game since his five-million-pound (10 million dollar) move from Southampton, and Tainio returned from injury and illness for Wales and Finland respectively on Wednesday.

"Dimitar still has a bit of a problem with his groin but he might be able to make it and Younes Kaboul is progressing well with his hamstring, better than Michael Dawson, who is still out with his ankle injury," said Jol.

Darren Bent is struggling to make the game because of a thigh problem while England defender Ledley King remains sidelines with a damaged knee.

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