Sir Alex Ferguson is ready for next great challenge

 

Rio Ferdinand is ready to lead United’s quest for a 20th Premier League title

 

Rio Ferdinand knows the pressure starts tonight against United’s Champions League final conquerors Barcelona.

Less than three months after lifting the Premier League trophy, United are bidding to do it again with title number 20 – and also go one better in Europe.

Ferdinand, 32 who has a personal battle to keep his regular place with the Reds signing Phil Jones from Blackburn for £16m, said: “The pressure is not overwhelming... it is part of being a Manchester United player.

Changes

“You have to deal with all that stuff. It represents the difference between adapting to life at United and not because it is never going to change.”

With huge changes to Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad, Ferdinand accepts some players are easier to replace than others.

He said: “I have always said it, Paul Scholes is my favourite player.

“He is one of the top two players I have ever played with. It is his decision to stop and you have to respect that.

“When Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy left for instance, we didn't get like-for-like replacements.

“We got different players who had a great impact.”

With Fergie reaching his 25 years at OT milestone in November, Ryan Giggs spoke for the dressing room when he said: “He’s probably the greatest manager that’s ever lived... but it is more than that. If we were winning things and not playing attractive football, the fans wouldn’t stand for it.”

Ferguson has made a subtle shift in his philosophy with Gary Neville, Edwin van der Sar and of course Scholes all retired, Owen Hargreaves has been released and both Wes Brown and John O’Shea have moved to Sunderland.

All six had passed 30, only Hargreaves lacking significant United experience, and that was entirely due to his many fitness problems.

As two of the three new players Ferguson snapped up within weeks of that record 19th title being celebrated are not 21 yet – Ashley Young was the exception – and development is anticipated from a Youth Cup-winning team of whom Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison were a significant part, it is the start of a new era.

Fergie’s next challenge – in all probability his last great challenge – is to find a way of overcoming a Barcelona side who were so superior in the Champions League final at Wembley in May.

Typically, Ferguson cannot wait to get started.

“Barcelona could probably have done that to any team,” he reflected. “They are the team of the moment.

“It is the same players who have been there for a while now; Messi, Xavi, Iniesta. They can dominate any game.

“Everyone says what a great final it was, that Barcelona were fantastic and we were disappointing.

“It is not the kind of thing that makes you think ‘let’s not bother with European football any more, we are never going to beat Barcelona’.

Challenge

“Manchester United are bigger than that. We have a better philosophy than that.

“The challenge will be ‘can we improve enough to get to the final next season and win?’”

One player up against the Reds in tonight’s Washington friendly  is Barca’s Gerard Pique who admits he is flabbergasted at how long Sir Alex  has remained at the top with United.

Pique spent four seasons at United, having been snapped up from Barcelona as a 17-year-old and made 20 appearances before returning to Catalonia.

“I have never seen anything like this in Spain,” he said. “He is a great coach but he also treats the players really well.

“No matter what it is, he will be there for you.”

Inter Milan tell Manchester United: Make us an offer for Wesley Sneijder

 

Wesley Sneijder

 

Inter Milan have told Manchester United Wesley Sneijder is available – at the right price.

The Reds will have to smash the club record £30.75m they paid for Dimitar Berbatov to land the Dutch playmaker but, significantly, the Italians have finally admitted their prize asset is for sale.

Sneijder, United fans’ favourite to fill the hole left by Paul Scholes’ retirement, is rated at £35m.

And Inter chief executive Ernesto Paolillo last night admitted: “Is Wesley definitely not for sale? I don’t think there’s anything that can’t be sold, it all depends on the price.

“You never say no if a big opportunity comes your way, but it does have to be a real opportunity.”

He added: “Are Manchester United still after Sneijder? We haven’t seen or heard from anyone.”

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has played down the Sneijder link, but has never ruled out a swoop.

And Old Trafford’s chief executive David Gill has said that there is a chance of another import before the August window shuts.

Javier Hernandez knock takes shines of Manchester United's 4-0 win over MLS All-Stars

 

CONCUSSION: Javier Hernandez

 

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Javier Hernandez will be out for a fortnight after suffering mild concussion in training for Manchester United's 4-0 win over the MLS All-Stars.

Hernandez spent last night in his hotel room in New Jersey after being released from hospital after being admitted following training 24 hours earlier.

Although medical staff found no major damage, Ferguson has confirmed the Mexico forward will not play for a couple of weeks, even though he will continue to train and remain on tour.

"He got concussion in training and we dealt with that," said Ferguson.

"We took him to hospital, he had a scan, it was all clear.

"He is back in the hotel. He is in his room and will be out for a couple of weeks.

"He would never have been available for Barcelona anyway because he has just come back from his break after the Gold Cup.

"He will travel with us though. He is okay for that."

In Hernandez's absence, Dimitar Berbatov took the opportunity to shine, helping to create United's excellent opener before smashing home the third right after half-time.

Both fulfilled the Bulgarian's preferred criteria of 'beautiful goals' and helped break his duck for the tour.

In between, Park Ji-sung scored a fine goal to maintain his impressive recent form.

The South Korean then indicated he would be willing to sign the two-year contract extension Ferguson confirmed in Seattle last week had been offered.

"Why not?" said the midfielder

"I keep saying I want to stay here for more years to win things with Manchester United.

"Hopefully one day we will get together."

United's fourth straight victory on their five-match tour was completed by Danny Welbeck, to leave David Beckham empty-handed against his former club.

"When you don't put chances away against a team like Manchester United, they will capitalise," said the ex-England skipper.

"I had many successful years playing under Sir Alex Ferguson. I wouldn't be where I am today without him.

"He gave me a chance when I was 16. I owe him a lot. To play against a team that is still managed by him is emotional."

Whilst Beckham returns to his day job with LA Galaxy, United will head to Washington on Friday for a meeting with the team that clinically defeated them at Wembley in May.

"It is only pre-season," cautioned Ferguson.

"I just want the players to go out and enjoy it."

Manchester United will push to make one final summer signing

 

Douglas Costa has emerged as a cheaper alternative

 

United chief executive David Gill has thrown open the door for one final summer signing.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been downbeat about bringing in a replacement for Paul Scholes during the Reds’ three-week tour of the United States.

With Luka Modric seemingly bound for Chelsea if he leaves Tottenham and Samir Nasri earmarked for a move to City should Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger fail to keep hold of the Frenchman, only Wesley Sneijder appears attainable from the three players most regularly tipped as potential recruits.

While the overall cost of getting Sneijder from Inter Milan has so far proved prohibitive, Shaktar Donetsk’s Brazilian Douglas Costa has emerged as a cheaper alternative.

“We are looking at one more player to bring in,” Gill said.

“Nothing is happening and nothing is imminent but we will see what happens when we get home.

“There will still be 31 days of the transfer window to see if anything develops.

“The important point to understand, and Alex has made clear, is that we need someone who is going to improve the quality of the squad.

“We have a great squad and to get into that squad you need to be a world-class player.

“If you can’t get the players you want, there is no point buying someone for the sake of it.

“But you never know. There is often movement in August.

“I am not saying I am working on anything specific because I’m not. But that situation could change quickly when we get back to Carrington.”

Costa’s agent says United have registered an interest in the 20-year-old, who was heavily linked with Old Trafford in mid-season.

He would be the cheapest target in the running and command the least wages.

Inevitably, City are also interested, while the Ukrainian side have already rejected Arsenal’s attempt do a swap deal involving Denilson.

“I have had some contacts with important teams in Italy, Spain and England. Manchester City and Manchester United have informed themselves (about the player)," said Costa’s agent Cesar Bottega.

“If an opportunity from an important league arrives then we will consider it."

The creative midfielder, who scored five goals in 27 games for the Ukrainians last term has three years left on his current deal.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson throws down the gauntlet after missing out on his targets

 

Ryan Giggs is set to play a key role again next season

 

Sir Alex Ferguson aptly chose Soldier Field to break the news that United won’t be starting the new season with a new midfield
general.

Instead the Reds boss is looking to upgrade a few of his current engine room to gel together to form a unit that will take the champions forward in the post-Paul Scholes era.

Having been knocked back over Arsenal’s Samir Nasri, seen Chelsea firmly grab pole position for Luka Modric should Spurs relent and admit unlikely success in the pursuit of Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder, Fergie has given up the ghost.

“We are always looking for good quality players,” he said after United’s 3-1 win against Chicago Fire.

“We started the season with the players we have and I am satisfied with that. We are not looking at the moment but we are looking at combinations of central midfielders now at the club.”

You would never rule out the canny United boss suddenly announcing a new arrival having thrown everybody off the scent but on the face of it the possible finality of that declaration is not what Reds fans wanted to hear.

With Scholes injured for a big chunk of last season, and despite the excellent achievement of a record-breaking 19th title, it was done largely without flair and invention from the midfield.

Critics and the majority of fans alike were as one on that one.

With 21 days to go to the Premier League opener against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns, United’s support are now resigned to the fact that the new midfield conductor will have to come from within.

Influential

But ripping up the Paul Scholes like-for-like identi-kit search policy is nothing new for Sir Alex and even when he’s gone for a clone when replacing an influential figure in his XI it has been others who’ve arguably come to the party strongly to ease the transition. And there has been no let up in the success story even when the biggest names have departed.

In 1997 the shock retirement of Eric Cantona saw Fergie go for a similar player in Teddy Sheringham. He wasn’t an instant success and initially many of the Reds support needed convincing.

But despite Sheringham’s difficult introduction United had still won the Treble two years after Cantona had left.

Though Cristiano Ronaldo wore David Beckham’s number seven shirt after the latter moved to Real Madrid in 2003 and played on the right wing, the teenager wasn’t a mirror image of the departed Beckham.

Yet within four years he’d become a title winner, eventual World Player of the Year and was the inspiration behind the 2008 League and European Cup
double.

After Roy Keane quit in 2005 Michael Carrick was bought the following summer to wear his number 16 shirt but he wasn’t a Keano in disguise. Yet the Reds were dominating England and Europe not long after the Irishman was history.

Those players were imported to bring the numbers up but now the onus is on those already at Old Trafford.

Problem

Darren Fletcher’s illness has added to the problem. The Scot remained behind in Manchester on a personal training programme after the debilitating virus that cost him his place from March onwards last season set him back again.

Medical bulletins on the midfielder have not been forthcoming from United but it is unlikely he’ll make the start of the season.

Not being in Paul Scholes’ shadow could add new responsibility to Carrick’s imprint on the Reds and he’s the most experienced player with a passing game in his locker to take on the mantle.

Anderson has shown in fits and starts he has some of the tools to do the job but the 22-year-old Brazilian needs to step up consistently to fully convince his initial fans that he is the long term answer.

Ryan Giggs will be central to the equation but for how long and for how many matches can the evergreen Welshman be an influence?

England Under-21 Tom Cleverley has numerous backers believing the home produced midfielder can transfer his form on loan for Wigan last year into a red shirt.

And from the younger ranks one player above all others is being championed for a potential starring role very soon and that is the 18-year-old French lad Paul Pogba.

Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand warns his less-vaunted team-mates

Rio Ferdinand leaves the field with Wayne Rooney after the match against the Seattle Sounders. 

Rio Ferdinand has warned challengers for his Manchester United place that any player awestruck by the former England captain's standing at the club will be "shipped out".
The 32-year-old Londoner is in no mood to surrender his place in the team, but he says young challengers for his central-defensive position must not be fazed by reputation alone. "They can't be in awe of me," he said. "If they are, they will get shipped out. That is the way it is. Your desire has to be to play. I understand and respect that. That is why they are here."
This week, Ferdinand spoke enthusiastically about the abilities of Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and the £17m new signing from Blackburn, Phil Jones.
But stepping aside to let them into the first team is a different proposition completely, in Ferdinand's view. "I remember what I was like when I was young," he said. "I remember looking up at Slaven Bilic, Marc Rieper, Alvin Martin and Steve Potts at West Ham. I was only a kid but I used to sit on the bench and think I should be playing. I am sure these guys think the same thing. If they have got anything about them, they should.
"They are all talented footballers and, I believe, Manchester United players. At some point I am sure they will take over the reins. But I am competitive and I don't want to be giving up my position to anybody. My task is to prove I am hungrier than them."
Having arrived on United's US tour late due to their participation in the European Under-21 Championship with England, Smalling and Jones are now expected to make their first appearances in Saturday night's encounter with the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field.
Sir Alex Ferguson has already made the point to Jones that Ferdinand has missed matches through injury during the previous three seasons, heightening the new man's chance of getting games.
Ferdinand has to live with that knowledge, knowing any problem will be seized upon with suspicion and worry, even when he only gets a tap on the ankle, as was the case in the final seconds of Wednesday's 7-0 rout of the Seattle Sounders.
though he claims there are no fitness concerns blighting his pre-season campaign. "My fitness is OK," he said. "I am nowhere near where I want to be yet, but we have three weeks left.
"Last season, I had no problems with my back, which was a good thing, but I did pull my calf which kept me out for a chunk of the year.
"Hopefully this time around I won't have anything like that and I can continue to play a consistent amount of games."
The new goalkeeper David de Gea is also set for his first United appearance, with many fans anxious to see whether the 20-year-old can match the heady expectations that have brought comparisons with Chelsea's Petr Cech from Ferguson himself.
The retirement of Edwin van der Sar has brought an obvious pressure to perform, whilst Anders Lindegaard and Ben Amos clearly have a vested interest in trying to make life as difficult as possible for De Gea.
Not that Ferdinand believes that should be an issue.
As he comes up to his 10th season at Old Trafford, he knows handling pressure is merely an extension of the job his team-mates have to perform.
"Over the years this club has been very successful," he said.
"In the last couple of years we have won trophies as well. It is great to see. But it does bring pressure.
"It is not overwhelming though. It is part of being a Manchester United player. You have to deal with all that stuff. It separates you from being a Manchester United player and not

Fergie banking on Manchester United's David de Gea

 

Manchester United arrive at the airport ahead of their pre-season match against Chicago Fire as part of their pre-season tour of the USA

New United goalkeeper David de Gea can take the Premier League by storm according to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Spaniard makes his debut today when the Reds take on Chicago Fire at Soldier Field.

Fergie is expecting big things from de Gea, pictured arriving in  Chicago with his team-mates. "He might do what Petr Cech did at Chelsea and take the English game by storm. He has similar qualities,” said Ferguson.