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Manchester United manager Ferguson admits being too gung-ho in Premier League race
NEVER one to admit he’s wrong, Sir Alex Ferguson has broken tradition by conceding his tactical blunders have cost Manchester United the title.
The champions go into this weekend in real danger of losing their grip on the Premier League trophy as they sit second to Manchester City on goal difference with only one game remaining.
With Roberto Mancini’s men hosting relegation-threatened QPR on Sunday, and United having a difficult trip to Sunderland, it appears the blue side of Manchester will be celebrating once the curtain comes down on a superb season.
And that has left ‘Fergie’ in a rather reflective mood for a change, the experienced Scot revealing a more conservative approach like the one employed at the Etihad Stadium would have seen his side retain the title.
“In the end we just ran out of time, as Mancini made changes to give him five at the back,” said Ferguson, referring to the crucial derby defeat to City last week.
“It’s the Italian mentality - and maybe we should sometimes go down that road. We could certainly have done with bolting up the game against Everton [United conceded late goals to draw 4-4].
“If we had done just a fraction of what City did, I would probably be saying quite a different thing.”
However, Ferguson claims he is still proud of the attacking mentality that has been a hallmark of all his great sides, despite it costing the class of 2012 those two crucial points against the Toffees.
“It is not in our nature to put up the shutters and I like to think that it is our attacking, adventurous approach that has made United famous,” he added.
“On balance it’s a policy that has also served us well in terms of trophies. But if we lose the league this year there’s no doubt the pivotal match was the 4-4 draw.”
Meanwhile, although it looks like the title is City’s, cautious centre-back Joleon Lescott has warned the club’s fans the league hasn’t been won just yet.
QPR are scrapping for their lives, and Lescott isn’t prepared to take anything for granted, saying: “It’s a massive game at the weekend. It’s not all over yet but, if we could close the title out, it’d be unreal.
“You dream of these things. I never once thought: ‘Yeah, I’m bound to win the Premier League’. But it was always in my mind. It will be crazy days if we win it. We’ve been nervous at times this season but we deserve to be up there.
“I’d say to our fans, keep a lid on it this week and let’s not get carried away. If it happens on Sunday, they can celebrate then. It’s in our hands but there’s another vital game to go.”
NEVER one to admit he’s wrong, Sir Alex Ferguson has broken tradition by conceding his tactical blunders have cost Manchester United the title.
The champions go into this weekend in real danger of losing their grip on the Premier League trophy as they sit second to Manchester City on goal difference with only one game remaining.
With Roberto Mancini’s men hosting relegation-threatened QPR on Sunday, and United having a difficult trip to Sunderland, it appears the blue side of Manchester will be celebrating once the curtain comes down on a superb season.
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Rio Ferdinand and Manchester United needed more protection this season
And that has left ‘Fergie’ in a rather reflective mood for a change, the experienced Scot revealing a more conservative approach like the one employed at the Etihad Stadium would have seen his side retain the title.
“In the end we just ran out of time, as Mancini made changes to give him five at the back,” said Ferguson, referring to the crucial derby defeat to City last week.
“It’s the Italian mentality - and maybe we should sometimes go down that road. We could certainly have done with bolting up the game against Everton [United conceded late goals to draw 4-4].
“If we had done just a fraction of what City did, I would probably be saying quite a different thing.”
However, Ferguson claims he is still proud of the attacking mentality that has been a hallmark of all his great sides, despite it costing the class of 2012 those two crucial points against the Toffees.
“It is not in our nature to put up the shutters and I like to think that it is our attacking, adventurous approach that has made United famous,” he added.
“On balance it’s a policy that has also served us well in terms of trophies. But if we lose the league this year there’s no doubt the pivotal match was the 4-4 draw.”
Meanwhile, although it looks like the title is City’s, cautious centre-back Joleon Lescott has warned the club’s fans the league hasn’t been won just yet.
QPR are scrapping for their lives, and Lescott isn’t prepared to take anything for granted, saying: “It’s a massive game at the weekend. It’s not all over yet but, if we could close the title out, it’d be unreal.
“You dream of these things. I never once thought: ‘Yeah, I’m bound to win the Premier League’. But it was always in my mind. It will be crazy days if we win it. We’ve been nervous at times this season but we deserve to be up there.
“I’d say to our fans, keep a lid on it this week and let’s not get carried away. If it happens on Sunday, they can celebrate then. It’s in our hands but there’s another vital game to go.”
"Italian mentality..." Eejit.
makes you at least want to go hmmmm...
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
and where is the "haytred' in my post? I am talking about a comment regardless of who makes it that could be construed as "politically incorrect" especially in light of recent happenings...
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