Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez's complaints over the Premier League fixture scheduling and claimed clubs like his own are being punished for their success.
Benitez is fuming at the number of Saturday lunchtime away games Liverpool find themselves involved in immediately after international breaks and Champions League weeks. Manchester United often find themselves in the same situation and head to Everton tomorrow for a noon start at Goodison Park. Although on this occasion the kick-off time has been determined by Merseyside Police rather than the TV companies, Ferguson does believe there is an issue to be addressed. And the Red Devils chief is laying the blame squarely at the Premier League's door. 'Rafa is quite right to complain,' said Ferguson. 'If there is an unfairness against teams, it should be addressed but I don't know if the authorities would listen. 'Over the last five years, we have had more lunchtime kick-offs than anyone and you would think that deserves some kind of attention. 'The Premier League are to blame. I accept, given when the fixture lists come out, it is just unfortunate if you find yourself away from home after a European tie but Rafa is talking about the lunchtime kick-offs.' Ferguson does accept pleasing every interested party is an impossible job for anyone. And, in accepting an enormous £1.7billion cheque from Sky and Setanta for the domestic TV rights, the United manager also acknowledges the Premier League has given up any realistic control over kick-off times. But he feels there are elements of unfairness about the way the Premier League handle certain situations, citing the differing examples of his own club and major title rivals Chelsea last year. 'Chelsea had a Sunday game against Tottenham and the Premier League changed it at their behest because they had a European tie the following Tuesday,' he said. 'That decision gave Chelsea three days to prepare, which is fine, except Tottenham had played their own European game on the previous Thursday, which left them with one-and-a-half days to prepare. 'There was no fairness there whatsoever. 'Then, when we asked for a Saturday lunchtime fixture at Manchester City to be changed because we had a Champions League semi-final the previous Wednesday, the Premier League said no, even though City had not played at all. That was wonderful.' Ferguson continued: 'I do think the successful teams are punished. 'The top teams are always going to be televised at a time that suits the public demand. Sky and Setanta are always going to pick the successful teams for the prime-time games, you can't blame them for that given the amount of money they have put it. 'Money is important to every club now, so they do a deal. But once you shake hands with the devil, you have to accept they are in control.' Read more...
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Friday, September 14, 2007
Boss: Ronaldo's return is a boost
Sir Alex Ferguson says Cristiano Ronaldo could make a big difference to United's attack when he returns from a three-match suspension this weekend.
The Portuguese winger hasn’t played for the Reds since being shown a red card against Portsmouth on 15 August.
Despite beating Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland in the meantime, United have not looked as threatening in front of goal as they did at the start of last season, most likely due to the absence of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
Both could play against Everton on Saturday, and Ronaldo is being tipped by Sir Alex to inject impetus into the team’s forward play.
“Without question, Cristiano’s return is a big plus for us,” said the boss.
“You miss players that make a difference, create opportunities, score goals and change the pattern of games.
“With Ronaldo back that gives us some better attacking options than we have had in the last three games.”
Sir Alex says that Ronaldo may have to deal with the kind of provocation that led to his sending off against Portsmouth, which the United boss still feels was unjust, but is confident the winger has the temperament and attitude to cope.
“That’s a possibility [that players could try to provoke him],” he added.
“I think that some players might try to do that. But that’s up to Ronaldo to control himself, to know what a good player he is. He knows that he’s only helping them by reacting to it. Also, you look for a strong referee that can sense the mood of the game.” Read more...
The Portuguese winger hasn’t played for the Reds since being shown a red card against Portsmouth on 15 August.
Despite beating Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland in the meantime, United have not looked as threatening in front of goal as they did at the start of last season, most likely due to the absence of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
Both could play against Everton on Saturday, and Ronaldo is being tipped by Sir Alex to inject impetus into the team’s forward play.
“Without question, Cristiano’s return is a big plus for us,” said the boss.
“You miss players that make a difference, create opportunities, score goals and change the pattern of games.
“With Ronaldo back that gives us some better attacking options than we have had in the last three games.”
Sir Alex says that Ronaldo may have to deal with the kind of provocation that led to his sending off against Portsmouth, which the United boss still feels was unjust, but is confident the winger has the temperament and attitude to cope.
“That’s a possibility [that players could try to provoke him],” he added.
“I think that some players might try to do that. But that’s up to Ronaldo to control himself, to know what a good player he is. He knows that he’s only helping them by reacting to it. Also, you look for a strong referee that can sense the mood of the game.” Read more...
Manchester United Vs. Everton Preview
Sir Bobby Charlton cannot wait for the opportunity to acclaim Ryan Giggs for snatching his Manchester United appearance record. Charlton played an incredible 759 times for the Red Devils during an illustrious 20-year playing career, an astounding figure which many pundits, including the man himself, thought would never be broken.
Now, it appears just a matter of time before the record is smashed as Giggs closes in. The veteran Welshman is hoping to have recovered from a hamstring injury in time to feature in Saturday's Premier League encounter with Everton at Goodison Park.
If Giggs does make the trip to Merseyside, he will move onto 722 appearances and with an extension to his current contract, which expires next summer, expected to be agreed in the coming months, there appears no reason why the 33-year-old should not eclipse Charlton's all-time best mark with something to spare.
Charlton cannot think of a worthier recipient for the honour, so much so that he intends to pester the United board into letting him present Giggs with a momento of the occasion when he does eventually get there. ``I would love it if Ryan got the record,'' said Charlton.
``It would be so fitting and I would be pleased to have the opportunity to go onto the pitch and present him with something. In fact, if they didn't ask me, I would pester them until they did. ``When I finished I could not believe anyone would play more games than that.
``I did so much running for so many years, I just didn't think it would be possible. ``But Ryan is almost there now. To physically put your body through what he has is very difficult and that is why I am so delighted for him.'' Giggs has always had a special place in Charlton's affections because he was one of the first senior figures associated with United to see the Welshman in action.
The England World Cup winner has never forgotten the day he ventured up to the Red Devils' Lyttleton Road training ground to watch a group of triallists. On wandering over to one of the furthest pitches away from the car park to meet Sir Alex Ferguson, he spotted a lithe young winger cutting a swathe through the opposition defence in a manner he had rarely seen before.
``I set off for Pitch 11, where Alex was, and got about halfway there when I saw this little lad pick up the ball, beat about four men and then shoot. ``The goalkeeper made a great save but I could not get up to see Alex quick enough. I asked him who it was and it turned out to be Ryan. He had just been signed that morning from under the noses of Manchester City. I just thought `that will do me'.
``I could never have imagined he would play so many times. Football is just so non-stop in England. It is all about pace now. But if that little lad has run as much as I did, he has been some player.'' Read more...Neville expecting same top four to challenge
Gary Neville is confident it will be the same old faces scrapping it out for the Premier League title next spring.
Liverpool top the table coming out of the international break, both Manchester United and Chelsea have lost games already, while Everton, Manchester City, Blackburn and Newcastle have all made excellent starts in a league where only three points separate the top 12 teams. Neville's manager Sir Alex Ferguson is among those who feel it will not take 90 points to win the championship this term due to the improvement most of United's mid-table rivals have been made. But, while the Red Devils captain - who is nearing full fitness after a series of injuries that have ruled him out since March - is not willing to set a title-winning target for his team-mates, he does not expect an unfamiliar name to be at the top in May either. 'It will all settle down in the next couple of months and I am sure it is going to be the same four battling for the championship again,' he told MUTV. 'We have only had four or five games so far and it is too early to start making assessments. 'Over the next couple of months, once the big teams start to play each other, it will start to pan out where we will all go. 'We just need to make sure we are in amongst it because we proved last season if we get up there we are difficult to knock off the top.' Having collected just two points from their opening three matches, United have turned their campaign around with successive home wins over Tottenham and Sunderland. However briefly, Ferguson's men would top the table if they repeat last season's win over Everton when they visit Goodison Park tomorrow. And, while it is inevitable United will not still be at the summit by the end of this weekend, Neville is convinced they are near enough to strike. 'The big thing in previous seasons was that we were too far behind,' he said. 'We need to make sure that we don't fall more than a couple of points behind the leaders. 'At this stage of the season it's in our hands. In two or three months we can get closer to them and that's what we need to do.' Although Wayne Rooney appears unlikely to play against his old club, despite his speedy recovery from a broken foot, Cristiano Ronaldo will be available for the trip to Merseyside after completing his three-match suspension. Read more...Owen Hargreaves faces a race to be fit for Saturday's clash with Everton at Goodison Park, and if he does make the match he knows he'll be in for a to
Owen Hargreaves faces a race to be fit for Saturday's clash with Everton at Goodison Park, and if he does make the match he knows he'll be in for a tough afternoon.
Despite having not played against David Moyes' side, the 26-year-old midfielder is well aware of the the threat posed by Everton, who currently lie third in the Premier League.
"The rest of the lads have all said that Everton away is a tough game, especially with the way they play," he told this week's Red View newsletter.
"They’ve signed some good players recently. Until they signed Yakubu they played mainly with just Andy Johnson up front, but with this being a home game they’ll probably play two up. Yakubu has a great physical presence and he’s been a good goalscorer in the past."
It's certain to be no easy ride for the Reds, as was discovered last season at Goodison Park when United had to come from two goals down to clinch a crucial 4-2 win en route to the league title.
"Everton are a good, hard-working team," added Hargreaves. "They play together, don’t make a lot of mistakes, defend very well and they’re a strong team.
"They keep it quite simple, but they obviously have two good strikers going forward. It’ll be a very tough game, but whenever Manchester United show up you’re expected to win games, and we’ll expect to win at Everton." Read more...
Despite having not played against David Moyes' side, the 26-year-old midfielder is well aware of the the threat posed by Everton, who currently lie third in the Premier League.
"The rest of the lads have all said that Everton away is a tough game, especially with the way they play," he told this week's Red View newsletter.
"They’ve signed some good players recently. Until they signed Yakubu they played mainly with just Andy Johnson up front, but with this being a home game they’ll probably play two up. Yakubu has a great physical presence and he’s been a good goalscorer in the past."
It's certain to be no easy ride for the Reds, as was discovered last season at Goodison Park when United had to come from two goals down to clinch a crucial 4-2 win en route to the league title.
"Everton are a good, hard-working team," added Hargreaves. "They play together, don’t make a lot of mistakes, defend very well and they’re a strong team.
"They keep it quite simple, but they obviously have two good strikers going forward. It’ll be a very tough game, but whenever Manchester United show up you’re expected to win games, and we’ll expect to win at Everton." Read more...
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Wayne Rooney will travel to Goodison Park for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League fixture against Everton.
Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Wayne Rooney will travel to Goodison Park for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League fixture against Everton.
The 21-year-old, who has been out since fracturing his foot against Reading on the opening day of the season, has been training well for the Reds this week, according to Sir Alex. He is in the squad to face his former club, but the manager admitted he is unsure how Rooney will be used, if at all, against his former club.
"Rooney has trained very well," the Reds boss told reporters on Friday. "He'll travel with us to Goodison, but whether I start him, put him on the bench or leave him out until Wednesday, that's something I have to decide."
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the manager also confirmed that Louis Saha is ready for action after completing 45 minutes against Sunderland earlier this month, while the Reds are boosted by Cristiano Ronaldo's return from a three-match suspension.
Owen Hargreaves, who missed both of England's Euro 2008 qualifiers this week with a thigh strain, trained on Friday morning but remains doubtful for the Reds' trip to Merseyside.
"There's not a lot wrong with Owen," added the boss. "He trained well today (Friday). But I don't know whether we'll risk that against Everton. It's more likely he'll play in Lisbon on Wednesday."
The news isn't quite so good for Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea, who were both injured on Wednesday night playing for their countries. Fletcher limped off against France and could be out for six weeks, while O'Shea appeared to pick up a knee injury in the Republic Of Ireland's loss to the Czech Republic and also faces a couple of weeks on the sideline. Read more...
The 21-year-old, who has been out since fracturing his foot against Reading on the opening day of the season, has been training well for the Reds this week, according to Sir Alex. He is in the squad to face his former club, but the manager admitted he is unsure how Rooney will be used, if at all, against his former club.
"Rooney has trained very well," the Reds boss told reporters on Friday. "He'll travel with us to Goodison, but whether I start him, put him on the bench or leave him out until Wednesday, that's something I have to decide."
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the manager also confirmed that Louis Saha is ready for action after completing 45 minutes against Sunderland earlier this month, while the Reds are boosted by Cristiano Ronaldo's return from a three-match suspension.
Owen Hargreaves, who missed both of England's Euro 2008 qualifiers this week with a thigh strain, trained on Friday morning but remains doubtful for the Reds' trip to Merseyside.
"There's not a lot wrong with Owen," added the boss. "He trained well today (Friday). But I don't know whether we'll risk that against Everton. It's more likely he'll play in Lisbon on Wednesday."
The news isn't quite so good for Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea, who were both injured on Wednesday night playing for their countries. Fletcher limped off against France and could be out for six weeks, while O'Shea appeared to pick up a knee injury in the Republic Of Ireland's loss to the Czech Republic and also faces a couple of weeks on the sideline. Read more...
Sir Alex glad Ronaldo is back
Sir Alex Ferguson says Cristiano Ronaldo could make a big difference to United’s attacking potency as the Portuguese winger returns from a three-match suspension this weekend.
The 22-year-old hasn’t played for the Reds since being shown a red card against Portsmouth on 15 August.
Despite 1-0 victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland, United have not looked as threatening in front of goal as at the start of last season, most likely due to the absence of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
Both could play against Everton on Saturday, and Ronaldo is being tipped by Sir Alex to inject impetus to the team’s forward play.
“Without question, Cristiano’s return is a big plus for us,” said the boss. “You miss players that make a difference, create opportunities, score goals and change the pattern of games.
“With Ronaldo back that gives us some better attacking options than we have had in the last three games.”
Sir Alex says that Ronaldo may have to deal with the kind of provocation that led to his sending off against Portsmouth, which the United boss still feels was unjust, but is confident the winger has the temperament and attitude to cope.
“That’s a possibility [that players could try to provoke him],” he added. “I think that some players might try to do that. But that’s up to Ronaldo to control himself, to know what a good player he is. He knows that he’s only helping them by reacting to it. Also, you look for a strong referee that can sense the mood of the game.” Read more...
The 22-year-old hasn’t played for the Reds since being shown a red card against Portsmouth on 15 August.
Despite 1-0 victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland, United have not looked as threatening in front of goal as at the start of last season, most likely due to the absence of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
Both could play against Everton on Saturday, and Ronaldo is being tipped by Sir Alex to inject impetus to the team’s forward play.
“Without question, Cristiano’s return is a big plus for us,” said the boss. “You miss players that make a difference, create opportunities, score goals and change the pattern of games.
“With Ronaldo back that gives us some better attacking options than we have had in the last three games.”
Sir Alex says that Ronaldo may have to deal with the kind of provocation that led to his sending off against Portsmouth, which the United boss still feels was unjust, but is confident the winger has the temperament and attitude to cope.
“That’s a possibility [that players could try to provoke him],” he added. “I think that some players might try to do that. But that’s up to Ronaldo to control himself, to know what a good player he is. He knows that he’s only helping them by reacting to it. Also, you look for a strong referee that can sense the mood of the game.” Read more...
Ronaldo: Hate made me
Cristiano Ronaldo says becoming a hate figure has been the making of him. The Manchester United and Portugal star was public enemy No 1 in this country after his part in Wayne Rooney’s World Cup red card last year. Ronaldo said: “After the match I was criticised and whistled at. It was not very pleasant but it did me some good. With this I grew wiser and it helped me to mature."
Neil Custis, The Sun Read more...
Neil Custis, The Sun Read more...
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