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Fergie's Liverpool swipe
August 05, 2009
SIR Alex Ferguson has cranked up the pressure on Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez by declaring Chelsea to be the biggest threat to Manchester United's dream of an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Big things are expected of Liverpool this term after their most consistent top-flight campaign since 1990.
Yet Ferguson does not see the Merseyside giants making the improvement necessary to end their championship drought.
“Liverpool had probably their best season for 20 years and still finished four points adrift,” he said.
“It will be hard for them to match last season, let alone improve on it. Other teams will know more about them, so it has to be Chelsea as the main threat.”
Benitez is bound to bristle at such comments, although with Xabi Alonso about to join Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema at Real Madrid, it is difficult to see how a Liverpool side whose focus continues to be the axis of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard can get better.
The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti also brings an unknown dimension to Chelsea, although Ferguson believes the Italian's past record makes him an opponent to be respected.
“Ancelotti will play the Milan way,” said Ferguson. "It brought him two European Cups - it should have been three because they should never have lost to Liverpool, so why should he change?”
That put-down of Benitez's proudest moment as Liverpool manager from Istanbul in 2005 will not endear him to the Anfield club either.
Improve
Fergie also insists there is life at the Reds without Ronaldo and he feels his squad is good enough to cope.
“People have misread our situation and underestimated our ability to improve players,” he said. “We are expecting a lot from Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson, Federico Macheda and the Da Silva brothers (Rafael and Fabio), while Nani and Anderson will improve this season.
“We will miss Ronaldo's goals, that is obvious. But Berbatov will do well this year and Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen are both capable of getting 20 goals.”
In addition, Ferguson is still counting on top performances from his old guard of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.
Giggs in particular has impressed in pre-season so far, even though he is approaching his 36th birthday.
“People may say they have had their day but that is a pretty dangerous assumption,” said Ferguson.
“Giggs has been out of this world in pre-season. I don't know how he does it. He still has so much energy and an incredible change of pace to go past defenders.”
Is Fergie right? Tell us your views
Fergie's Liverpool swipe
August 05, 2009
SIR Alex Ferguson has cranked up the pressure on Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez by declaring Chelsea to be the biggest threat to Manchester United's dream of an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Big things are expected of Liverpool this term after their most consistent top-flight campaign since 1990.
Yet Ferguson does not see the Merseyside giants making the improvement necessary to end their championship drought.
“Liverpool had probably their best season for 20 years and still finished four points adrift,” he said.
“It will be hard for them to match last season, let alone improve on it. Other teams will know more about them, so it has to be Chelsea as the main threat.”
Benitez is bound to bristle at such comments, although with Xabi Alonso about to join Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema at Real Madrid, it is difficult to see how a Liverpool side whose focus continues to be the axis of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard can get better.
The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti also brings an unknown dimension to Chelsea, although Ferguson believes the Italian's past record makes him an opponent to be respected.
“Ancelotti will play the Milan way,” said Ferguson. "It brought him two European Cups - it should have been three because they should never have lost to Liverpool, so why should he change?”
That put-down of Benitez's proudest moment as Liverpool manager from Istanbul in 2005 will not endear him to the Anfield club either.
Improve
Fergie also insists there is life at the Reds without Ronaldo and he feels his squad is good enough to cope.
“People have misread our situation and underestimated our ability to improve players,” he said. “We are expecting a lot from Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson, Federico Macheda and the Da Silva brothers (Rafael and Fabio), while Nani and Anderson will improve this season.
“We will miss Ronaldo's goals, that is obvious. But Berbatov will do well this year and Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen are both capable of getting 20 goals.”
In addition, Ferguson is still counting on top performances from his old guard of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.
Giggs in particular has impressed in pre-season so far, even though he is approaching his 36th birthday.
“People may say they have had their day but that is a pretty dangerous assumption,” said Ferguson.
“Giggs has been out of this world in pre-season. I don't know how he does it. He still has so much energy and an incredible change of pace to go past defenders.”
Is Fergie right? Tell us your views
Sir Alex Ferguson writes off Liverpool title chances
Times Online
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Ferguson says Chelsea are the main threat to United
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited {color:#06c;} Sir Alex Ferguson has written off Liverpool's chances for the coming season by claiming Chelsea are the main threat to his hopes of winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
The Manchester United manager says while he does not think the impending departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid will affect Liverpool, he claims the rest of the Premier League will be wise to their playing style and sees little chance of the club improving on last season's second place.
Ferguson's mind games have become a hallmark of his reign at Old Trafford and after a season in which he and Rafael Benitez, his Liverpool counterpart, clashed on a number of issues the Scot has stoked the fires once again in the run-up to the new campaign.
"Liverpool have just had probably their best season for 20 years, finished up with 86 points and still finished four adrift," he said. "It will be hard for them to match that, let alone improve. Other teams will read Liverpool better. The thrust of their team is all about Gerrard and Torres."
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In contrast Ferguson spoke in glowing terms about the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, claiming the Italian's past record at Milan means he is an opponent to be respected.
"It has to be Chelsea as the main threat. Ancelotti will play the Milan way," Ferguson said. "It brought him two European Cups - it should have been three because they should never have lost to Liverpool, so why should he change?"
Ferguson went on to say that Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid has placed a greater onus on United's younger players to come to the fore this season.
"We knew we could never replace Ronaldo," Ferguson said. "No matter what anyone says about the lad, for me he is the best footballer in the world. When you've had someone who is the best at what he does, it is no good trying to find someone to do the same job.
"And when you know you can't replace someone or something, you look for a different way. People have misread our situation and they have underestimated our ability to improve players. That is an area where we have proved successful in the past.
"We are expecting a lot from [Jonny] Evans, [Danny] Welbeck, [Darron] Gibson, [Federico] Macheda and the Da Silva brothers. And Nani and Anderson have already shown good things but they will improve next season."
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Ben Holloway wrote:
How tiresomely predictable ...
August 5, 2009 11:30 AM BST on UK-TimesOnline
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Permalink Teresa Keenaghan wrote:
Any slight chance Liverpool had walks out of the door with Alonso. Sir Alex's is correct, Chelsea are the main threat.
August 5, 2009 11:23 AM BST on UK-TimesOnline
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Permalink David Furlong wrote:
For once Fergie and I agree on something - that Chelsea will be the closest challengers to the eventual league champions, who I honestly believe are much more likely to be Liverpool than United. What he fails to realise is that he's not going to get close to the number of goals you need to win a league title in replacing your best player with an old bloke with dodgy knees.
August 5, 2009 10:55 AM BST on UK-TimesOnline
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August 05, 2009
SIR Alex Ferguson has cranked up the pressure on Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez by declaring Chelsea to be the biggest threat to Manchester United's dream of an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Big things are expected of Liverpool this term after their most consistent top-flight campaign since 1990.
Yet Ferguson does not see the Merseyside giants making the improvement necessary to end their championship drought.
“Liverpool had probably their best season for 20 years and still finished four points adrift,” he said.
“It will be hard for them to match last season, let alone improve on it. Other teams will know more about them, so it has to be Chelsea as the main threat.”
Benitez is bound to bristle at such comments, although with Xabi Alonso about to join Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema at Real Madrid, it is difficult to see how a Liverpool side whose focus continues to be the axis of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard can get better.
The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti also brings an unknown dimension to Chelsea, although Ferguson believes the Italian's past record makes him an opponent to be respected.
“Ancelotti will play the Milan way,” said Ferguson. "It brought him two European Cups - it should have been three because they should never have lost to Liverpool, so why should he change?”
That put-down of Benitez's proudest moment as Liverpool manager from Istanbul in 2005 will not endear him to the Anfield club either.
Improve
Fergie also insists there is life at the Reds without Ronaldo and he feels his squad is good enough to cope.
“People have misread our situation and underestimated our ability to improve players,” he said. “We are expecting a lot from Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson, Federico Macheda and the Da Silva brothers (Rafael and Fabio), while Nani and Anderson will improve this season.
“We will miss Ronaldo's goals, that is obvious. But Berbatov will do well this year and Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen are both capable of getting 20 goals.”
In addition, Ferguson is still counting on top performances from his old guard of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.
Giggs in particular has impressed in pre-season so far, even though he is approaching his 36th birthday.
“People may say they have had their day but that is a pretty dangerous assumption,” said Ferguson.
“Giggs has been out of this world in pre-season. I don't know how he does it. He still has so much energy and an incredible change of pace to go past defenders.”
Is Fergie right? Tell us your views
Fergie's Liverpool swipe
August 05, 2009
SIR Alex Ferguson has cranked up the pressure on Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez by declaring Chelsea to be the biggest threat to Manchester United's dream of an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Big things are expected of Liverpool this term after their most consistent top-flight campaign since 1990.
Yet Ferguson does not see the Merseyside giants making the improvement necessary to end their championship drought.
“Liverpool had probably their best season for 20 years and still finished four points adrift,” he said.
“It will be hard for them to match last season, let alone improve on it. Other teams will know more about them, so it has to be Chelsea as the main threat.”
Benitez is bound to bristle at such comments, although with Xabi Alonso about to join Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema at Real Madrid, it is difficult to see how a Liverpool side whose focus continues to be the axis of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard can get better.
The arrival of Carlo Ancelotti also brings an unknown dimension to Chelsea, although Ferguson believes the Italian's past record makes him an opponent to be respected.
“Ancelotti will play the Milan way,” said Ferguson. "It brought him two European Cups - it should have been three because they should never have lost to Liverpool, so why should he change?”
That put-down of Benitez's proudest moment as Liverpool manager from Istanbul in 2005 will not endear him to the Anfield club either.
Improve
Fergie also insists there is life at the Reds without Ronaldo and he feels his squad is good enough to cope.
“People have misread our situation and underestimated our ability to improve players,” he said. “We are expecting a lot from Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson, Federico Macheda and the Da Silva brothers (Rafael and Fabio), while Nani and Anderson will improve this season.
“We will miss Ronaldo's goals, that is obvious. But Berbatov will do well this year and Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen are both capable of getting 20 goals.”
In addition, Ferguson is still counting on top performances from his old guard of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.
Giggs in particular has impressed in pre-season so far, even though he is approaching his 36th birthday.
“People may say they have had their day but that is a pretty dangerous assumption,” said Ferguson.
“Giggs has been out of this world in pre-season. I don't know how he does it. He still has so much energy and an incredible change of pace to go past defenders.”
Is Fergie right? Tell us your views
Sir Alex Ferguson writes off Liverpool title chances
Times Online
gSiteLife.Recommend("ExternalResource", "6739789","http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6739789.ece");Recommend? (2)
Ferguson says Chelsea are the main threat to United
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited {color:#06c;} Sir Alex Ferguson has written off Liverpool's chances for the coming season by claiming Chelsea are the main threat to his hopes of winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.
The Manchester United manager says while he does not think the impending departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid will affect Liverpool, he claims the rest of the Premier League will be wise to their playing style and sees little chance of the club improving on last season's second place.
Ferguson's mind games have become a hallmark of his reign at Old Trafford and after a season in which he and Rafael Benitez, his Liverpool counterpart, clashed on a number of issues the Scot has stoked the fires once again in the run-up to the new campaign.
"Liverpool have just had probably their best season for 20 years, finished up with 86 points and still finished four adrift," he said. "It will be hard for them to match that, let alone improve. Other teams will read Liverpool better. The thrust of their team is all about Gerrard and Torres."
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In contrast Ferguson spoke in glowing terms about the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, claiming the Italian's past record at Milan means he is an opponent to be respected.
"It has to be Chelsea as the main threat. Ancelotti will play the Milan way," Ferguson said. "It brought him two European Cups - it should have been three because they should never have lost to Liverpool, so why should he change?"
Ferguson went on to say that Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid has placed a greater onus on United's younger players to come to the fore this season.
"We knew we could never replace Ronaldo," Ferguson said. "No matter what anyone says about the lad, for me he is the best footballer in the world. When you've had someone who is the best at what he does, it is no good trying to find someone to do the same job.
"And when you know you can't replace someone or something, you look for a different way. People have misread our situation and they have underestimated our ability to improve players. That is an area where we have proved successful in the past.
"We are expecting a lot from [Jonny] Evans, [Danny] Welbeck, [Darron] Gibson, [Federico] Macheda and the Da Silva brothers. And Nani and Anderson have already shown good things but they will improve next season."
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Ben Holloway wrote: How tiresomely predictable ...
August 5, 2009 11:30 AM BST on UK-TimesOnline
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Teresa Keenaghan wrote: Any slight chance Liverpool had walks out of the door with Alonso. Sir Alex's is correct, Chelsea are the main threat.
August 5, 2009 11:23 AM BST on UK-TimesOnline
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David Furlong wrote: For once Fergie and I agree on something - that Chelsea will be the closest challengers to the eventual league champions, who I honestly believe are much more likely to be Liverpool than United. What he fails to realise is that he's not going to get close to the number of goals you need to win a league title in replacing your best player with an old bloke with dodgy knees.
August 5, 2009 10:55 AM BST on UK-TimesOnline
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Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
), I won't use "the 'j' word" but I will use "bully". It is to my way of thinking an accurate term. Still, as I say that, I know of no better word than "punk" to describe the way he has treated the entire Citeh situation and the Tevez affair. Mark Hughes by contrast (a former United man) has been very collegial and dignified. Maybe he will be soon "Sir Mark Hughes". Certainly, his behaviour is more befitting.
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