Sir Alex Ferguson firmly believes Cristiano Ronaldo’s immediate future at United is secure, but he says future Reds success in Europe is vital to keeping the prodigious Portuguese winger at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo has four years left on his current contract, but Sir Alex admits a time will come when the player has a “big decision” to make over his future.
United clinched a dramatic third European Cup in Moscow on Wednesday and Sir Alex says improving that record even further will be a crucial point in persuading Ronaldo to extend his stay in Manchester even further.
Real Madrid continue to make the world aware of their interest in Ronaldo’s services. But Sir Alex remains unflustered, as he should having just won a league and European Cup double.
“You get used to it with Madrid,” said the United boss on Friday. “The simple fact of the matter is that he has four years left on his contract and he is happy here.
“Of course, the players you want to keep, you have to work hard to keep. That is a fact in the modern era. He is 23, when he gets to 25 or 26 he will have a big decision to make. That will be our biggest task when he gets to that age.
“It’s about how big we become and how big we are then in terms of European trophies. That European success will resonate with him. That’s why I make the point about us striving to be better at winning European Cups."
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Friday, May 23, 2008
It was fate
Sir Alex Ferguson claimed the best is still to come after Manchester United clinched the Double in dramatic fashion. Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar sealed United's sudden-death shootout joy in Moscow after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Champions League final. And Ferguson insisted victory was down to fate - 50 years after the Munich air disaster decimated the club's Busby Babes. The United chief said: "I think this has the makings of being my best ever team. It’s fantastic. I think there is a sense of fate about this. I think we deserved to win."
Neil Custis, The Sun Read more...
Neil Custis, The Sun Read more...
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Interview: Edwin's Euro joy
Thirteen years after his first Champions League triumph, Edwin van der Sar was United's hero as the Reds claimed European glory against Chelsea...
Edwin, how does it feel to have picked up your second Champions League winners' medal?
Of course, nights like Wednesday's are what you dream of. It’s been 13 years – a long time – since I won it and it feels fantastic, especially in the way we won it. It was the last penalty – saving it - I don't have any words for it. What can I say? It's great.
What was that feeling like when you dived one way and saw John Terry's penalty go wide in the other direction?
I felt very relieved! When he stepped up I knew I had to save it or it would be all over. I went to the right and I was very lucky to see him slip and send the ball wide. Little moments in a game can change things dramatically as you saw tonight – we had the luck.
What went through your mind after you'd saved Anelka's penalty?
You see it coming, you save it and then you get up and you know the game's over. You have two, three or four seconds on your own, arms in the air and everything goes through your mind. You see your team-mates coming and it's just happiness; one of the greatest feelings you can ever have.
How do you stay calm in the pressure cooker that is a penalty shoot-out?
You just do what you can to try and save as many as you can. Of course, there is a lot of tension and pressure on you. The lads expect you to save one or two and you want to do that, both for them and yourself. I lost a shoot-out in 1996 [for Ajax to Juventus] and it’s very hard to take and I was desperate not to experience that again.
A lot was made of the pitch before the game - what did you think of it and did it cause you to slip for Chelsea's goal?
The pitch wasn’t the best to be fair. You could see for their that I slipped and that happened quite a lot during the match. I know Moscow worked very hard for the final and organised everything very well, but next time I think UEFA must choose a stadium where there is a normal pitch.
Does this win make up for losing to Chelsea in last season's FA Cup final?
This is a much bigger occasion. As well as winning it, it means you’ll play in the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo. It opens so many doors for United once again. It’s nine years since the club last won it and 13 since I did, so it’s a great feeling.
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Edwin, how does it feel to have picked up your second Champions League winners' medal?
Of course, nights like Wednesday's are what you dream of. It’s been 13 years – a long time – since I won it and it feels fantastic, especially in the way we won it. It was the last penalty – saving it - I don't have any words for it. What can I say? It's great.
What was that feeling like when you dived one way and saw John Terry's penalty go wide in the other direction?
I felt very relieved! When he stepped up I knew I had to save it or it would be all over. I went to the right and I was very lucky to see him slip and send the ball wide. Little moments in a game can change things dramatically as you saw tonight – we had the luck.
What went through your mind after you'd saved Anelka's penalty?
You see it coming, you save it and then you get up and you know the game's over. You have two, three or four seconds on your own, arms in the air and everything goes through your mind. You see your team-mates coming and it's just happiness; one of the greatest feelings you can ever have.
How do you stay calm in the pressure cooker that is a penalty shoot-out?
You just do what you can to try and save as many as you can. Of course, there is a lot of tension and pressure on you. The lads expect you to save one or two and you want to do that, both for them and yourself. I lost a shoot-out in 1996 [for Ajax to Juventus] and it’s very hard to take and I was desperate not to experience that again.
A lot was made of the pitch before the game - what did you think of it and did it cause you to slip for Chelsea's goal?
The pitch wasn’t the best to be fair. You could see for their that I slipped and that happened quite a lot during the match. I know Moscow worked very hard for the final and organised everything very well, but next time I think UEFA must choose a stadium where there is a normal pitch.
Does this win make up for losing to Chelsea in last season's FA Cup final?
This is a much bigger occasion. As well as winning it, it means you’ll play in the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo. It opens so many doors for United once again. It’s nine years since the club last won it and 13 since I did, so it’s a great feeling.
Read more...
Reds overjoyed at double glory
The Reds were overjoyed after claiming a Champions League final victory over Chelsea in dramatic fashion in Moscow on Wednesday night.
Edwin van der Sar's penalty shoot-out save from Nicolas Anelka handed United only their third ever European Cup and ensured the Reds finished the season as double winners.
Here's what the lads had to say to ManUtd.com afterwards...
Christiano Ronaldo
We showed this season that we are the best team in Europe and in England and it’s a great feeling. Next season we will try to do the same. I feel very proud. It means everything to me - it is the happiest day of my life.
Nemanja Vidic
The game against Manchester City [which marked the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash] was very disappointing and we still remember that. But I think we made up for it in Moscow and by winning the league and gave the fans what they wanted.
Edwin van der Sar
Of course, nights like this are what you dream of. It’s been 13 years – a long time – since I last won the competition and it feels fantastic, especially in the way we won it. It was the last penalty – saving it - I don't have any words for it. What can I say? It's great.
Rio Ferdinand
I said before the game that you’re only really considered a great player at this club when you win the Champions League. There have been a lot of top players to play for the club, but to be revered by the fans and everyone associated with United by becoming a European champion sets you apart from others.
Wayne Rooney
I hope we can win it again. Doing it this year has given us a taste for it and we want to do well again next season. We’ve got some great young players in the squad mixed with experience, so hopefully we can do well again.
Michael Carrick
When you take a penalty you’ve got to have the belief in yourself that you’re going to score and obviously hope for the best! You know there is always someone who’s going to have to miss and you pray it’s not you.
Carlos Tevez
It has been a long time since I felt like this - it's a huge emotion in my heart. When I was a child, I never thought I would be now lifting the cup, but dreams usually come true and I am very, very happy."
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Edwin van der Sar's penalty shoot-out save from Nicolas Anelka handed United only their third ever European Cup and ensured the Reds finished the season as double winners.
Here's what the lads had to say to ManUtd.com afterwards...
Christiano Ronaldo
We showed this season that we are the best team in Europe and in England and it’s a great feeling. Next season we will try to do the same. I feel very proud. It means everything to me - it is the happiest day of my life.
Nemanja Vidic
The game against Manchester City [which marked the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash] was very disappointing and we still remember that. But I think we made up for it in Moscow and by winning the league and gave the fans what they wanted.
Edwin van der Sar
Of course, nights like this are what you dream of. It’s been 13 years – a long time – since I last won the competition and it feels fantastic, especially in the way we won it. It was the last penalty – saving it - I don't have any words for it. What can I say? It's great.
Rio Ferdinand
I said before the game that you’re only really considered a great player at this club when you win the Champions League. There have been a lot of top players to play for the club, but to be revered by the fans and everyone associated with United by becoming a European champion sets you apart from others.
Wayne Rooney
I hope we can win it again. Doing it this year has given us a taste for it and we want to do well again next season. We’ve got some great young players in the squad mixed with experience, so hopefully we can do well again.
Michael Carrick
When you take a penalty you’ve got to have the belief in yourself that you’re going to score and obviously hope for the best! You know there is always someone who’s going to have to miss and you pray it’s not you.
Carlos Tevez
It has been a long time since I felt like this - it's a huge emotion in my heart. When I was a child, I never thought I would be now lifting the cup, but dreams usually come true and I am very, very happy."
Read more...
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