Sir Alex Ferguson says Louis van Gaal needs time at Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson: Backing Louis van Gaal to get things right
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Louis van Gaal will get things right at Manchester United if he is given time after likening the Dutchman's start at Old Trafford to his own.
Van Gaal has endured a mixed start to his Old Trafford reign losing three of his first eight games in charge, but United currently sit in fourth place after back-to-back home wins over Queens Park Rangers and Everton.
Ferguson, who backed van Gaal's big spending spree in the summer to reshape the United squad, has compared the Dutchman's start to life at United to the beginning of his own reign and has called on the club's board to back van Gaal.
"He’s not been getting the results that are expected but when I came to the club [in November 1986] I didn’t get the results I expected myself at the beginning," Ferguson told MUTV.
"What we needed then was Sir Bobby Charlton, Martin Edwards and the board to stick by me and we had a great spell after that.
"Once I got settled into the club, everything was fine. Louis is going through that same process and there’s no doubt in my mind that he will sort it out.”
Ferguson was criticised last season for casting a shadow over his successor David Moyes by being too high profile at United games and Ferguson admits he found it hard to contain his emotions during the heavy home defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City last term.
"Once I got settled into the club, everything was fine. Louis is going through that same process and there’s no doubt in my mind that he will sort it out"
Sir Alex Ferguson
Asked if he is annoyed at how that has been portrayed, Ferguson added: "There's a bit of that. I haven't been to every game, obviously. I've missed a couple this season already but I've been to a few of them and I continue to do that.
"The way I've always been and I did it as a manager, I'm actually quite stone-faced watching a game. I don't try to show any emotions unless we score.
"I always celebrate a goal, even now as a director I still celebrate a goal. You're always conscious maybe the cameras are on you and this is happening quite a lot.
"I got annoyed when we lost to Liverpool last year. I didn't enjoy that. I don't like losing to Liverpool and Manchester City last year, because they are your biggest rivals and the ones you always strive to defeat and are always in our way. Particularly Liverpool of course."
Sir Alex Ferguson: Louis van Gaal needed to make Man Utd signings
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted the squad needed "a big injection" of players.
Ferguson retired in 2013 but successor David Moyes was sacked in April as United struggled to seventh last term, their lowest Premier League finish.
Six new players were brought in at a cost of £150m, including Angel Di Maria for a British record fee of £59.7m
"It was really important because you need quality at Manchester United, you need the best players," Ferguson said.
The 72-year-old Scotsman, who won 38 trophies in his 26 years at United, told MUTV: "That's the way the game is going today with fees likes £85m for Gareth Bale.
"When you can identify ability like that needed by Manchester United, they have the resources to do that.
"Those are fees I never quite equalled but nonetheless they were needing quite a big injection this year."
Manchester United summer signings |
|---|
Also in the summer transfer window, United sold Manchester-born striker Danny Welbeck, who had progressed through the youth ranks, to Arsenal for £16m, leading to criticism the club were neglecting their youth policy.
But new boss Louis van Gaal has introduced several homegrown players into the senior squad in his first season at the helm, including defendersPaddy McNair and Tyler Blackett.
"What has pleased me about Louis is he's given seven young kids their debuts this year, which falls into line with the history of our club," Ferguson said.
Van Gaal, who signed a three-year contract with United in May, has won titles with Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AZ Alkmaar but has seen his new team lose to Swansea and Leicester, and suffer a 4-0 thrashingby League One MK Dons in the League Cup.
Asked about the new manager's start, Ferguson added: "Maybe he's doing the right thing to clear the decks and build his own team, because he's got the experience and coaching ability to do that. I think the way he's approached [it] is brilliant.
"He's not been getting the results that are expected but when I came to the club I didn't get the results I expected myself at the beginning.
"Louis is going through that same process and there's no doubt in my mind he will sort it out."
Luis Suarez: 'Bite truth was hard to face'
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has said it was "hard to face the truth" of his bite on Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at last summer's World Cup.
The Uruguayan, who joined Barca from Liverpool for £75m in July, was banned for four months for the incident.
"I found it hard to take in and realise what I had done," Suarez, 27, said.
"I'm only human and sometimes it's hard to face the truth. I didn't want to listen to anybody, or speak to anybody. I didn't want to accept it."
Suarez apologised to Chiellini on 30 June - six days after Uruguay's 1-0 Group D win over Italy - saying the Juventus defender "suffered the physical result of a bite in the collision he suffered with me".
Suarez initially said he lost balance and fell on the Italian face first.
Chiellini accepted Suarez's apology via Twitter, saying the incident was "forgotten" and expressing hope Fifa would reduce his ban.
Suarez has been training and playing in friendlies, scoring two goals in Uruguay's 3-0 win over Oman on Monday.
The first competitive match he will be available for following his suspension is Barcelona's league match away to fierce rivals Real Madrid on Saturday, 25 October.
His new side are top of La Liga - four points clear of Real - after dropping just two points in their first seven games.
"I'm getting more anxious to play and help the team out," Suarez added.
"I'm the kind of person who believes that things happen for a reason, and out of all 19 teams in the league, it's precisely against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu that I'll make my comeback. There must be a reason."
Suarez's former side Liverpool have made a less assured start to their own league campaign, lying ninth after seven games in the absence of the striker who scored 31 goals last season.
Having led the 2013-14 title race with three games to go, Liverpool finished two points short of Premier League champions Manchester City and, while regretting the Reds' failure to win the title, Suarez is content he did all he could for his former club.
"Liverpool came so close to winning the Premier League, which would have been spectacular," he said.
"I appreciate all the work the team did, but I missed six matches and scored all those goals in the Premier League without being the penalty-taker.
"I really could leave happy because if I hadn't had the attitude and mentality to lead the team, I don't think Liverpool would have done as well as they did."
Raheem Sterling: Gary Lineker wants 'sniping' to stop
Former England captain Gary Lineker has urged Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers and England manager Roy Hodgson to stop "sniping" at Raheem Sterling's expense.
Forward Sterling, 19, complained of tiredness before England's Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia on Sunday.
Hodgson has since questioned Liverpool's fitness regime, which is based on a "two-day recovery" system.
Lineker tweeted: "It's time Roy Hodgson and Brendan Rodgers stopped sniping. It's at their player's expense."
Sterling played 45 minutes of England's 5-0 victory over San Marino on Thursday and, three days later, came on as a 64th-minute substitute in England's 1-0 win in Tallinn.
5 Injured Premier League Players Who Could Make a Difference
A player returning from a long-term injury can be like a new signing. With the summer transfer window long shut and January far off, rehabilitation of sidelined players can offer a solution.Whether it is an injured star striker bringing goals, a midfielder offering creativity or a defender to galvanise a leaking defence, they can all impact on the league table.Here we name the injured players that fans have been longing to see and those you may have forgotten about.Read on to find out the five injured Premier League players who are yet to play a minute this season but could make a big difference when they return.
Kyle Walker: The Spurs right-back has been out of action for six months with an abdominal problem. Walker was an important player last season, and with Kyle Naughton picking up an injury recently and Eric Dier inexperienced in the Premier League, he could go straight back into the side.
Suso: The Liverpool attacking midfielder is suffering from a groin injury and is yet to appear in the league this season. Although not a crucial member of the first team, the 20-year-old is a bright talent and would offer another option for manager Brendan Rogers.
Leon Britton: Swansea’s midfield metronome has been out all season with a knee injury. The Swans have made an impressive start to the season, but there is no doubt that Britton would be a welcome back-up to Jonjo Shelvey and Ki Sung-Yeung.
In 5th place is Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez, who has been unavailable since damaging his anterior cruciate ligament in April.The 25-year-old was top scorer for Saints last season with 15 Premier League goals. As well as game-changing strikes, Rodriguez offers tactical flexibility, and his work rate means he can also play on either flank of Southampton’s 4-3-3 formation.So far this season Southampton have not shown signs of missing him. New signing Graziano Pelle, in particular, has hit the ground running after joining from Feyenoord.However, Southampton currently only have three strikers available: Pelle, Shane Long and Emmanuel Mayuka, who is yet to make an appearance this season. Over the Christmas period, the games come thick and fast, and Rodriguez’s reintroduction could prove crucial to sustaining an excellent start.
Beating Rodriguez to fourth position is Manchester United midfielderMichael Carrick, whose return could ease manager Louis van Gaal’s injury problems.Carrick’s return from an ankle injury would be a welcome one for Van Gaal. Although the signing of Daley Blind, who has been anchoring the midfield, may appear to leave Carrick unneeded, it actually offers more options.With Ander Herrera out injured and Marouane Fellaini and Darren Fletcher struggling for form, Carrick could provide a solution—either partnering Blind in a 4-2-3-1 or as a substitute to establish more control.Carrick offers another defensive option. In a team that boasts an embarrassment of riches in attack but can be undermined by vulnerability at the back, he could be just what is required.
At No. 3 is Portuguese winger Silvestre Varela, who is on loan from Porto at West Bromwich Albion.Varela is yet to make a single appearance for West Brom due to a groin injury, but he is an exciting and talented winger who has been capped 26 times for Portugal. He has played in the Europa League and featured in the 2014 World Cup for Portugal. His signing by manager Alan Irvine probably owed much to his direct style, pace and unpredictability.West Brom’s midfield is hard working and combative but lacks flair and natural width. Varela could provide something different in attack—an edge that is lacking from the current nominal wide players Chris Brunt and Graham Dorrans.
In 2nd place is Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, who is yet to feature this season due to a knee injury.Barkley registered six goals and four assists as he broke into the Toffees and England squad last season. He brought a refreshing ambition and drive to the midfield which has been sorely missed so far this campaign.Everton are currently 17th in the Premier League and have only managed one win. Although it is their defence that has been particularly culpable for their poor start, they have also missed Barkley’s dynamism and energy.There is no doubt that with the 20-year-old available, Everton are a better side. Manager Roberto Martinez will be hoping he makes a swift recovery as they look to climb the league table and compete in Europe.
In 1st place is Burnley striker Sam Vokes, who is also a long-term absentee with a knee injury.In the Championship last season, target man Vokes formed a prolific strike partnership with Danny Ings to contribute 47 goals and help Burnley secure promotion.So far this season, however, replacement forwards Lukas Jutkiewicz, Ashley Barnes and Marvin Sordell have struggled with the increased quality of defences. The newly promoted side have managed just three goals in seven games and are in 19th position.Without a serious improvement in front of goal, they will be relegated.Burnley’s survival hinges on the Vokes and Ings partnership. If they can be reunited up front, then perhaps the Lancashire club with a tiny budget can avoid the drop.
Andre Schurrle withdraws from Germany-Ireland qualifier with flu
ESPN FC's Craig Burley analyses Germany's shocking loss to Poland and what it means for the other teams in Group D.
Chelsea midfielder Andre Schurrle has become the latest Germany player to pull out of Tuesday's 2016 European Championship qualifier against Republic of Ireland.
Schurrle, who played 78 minutes of the weekend's 2-0 defeat in Poland, left the Germany team hotel in Essen on Tuesday as the problems facing theNationalmannschaft continued to grow.
"Andre Schurrle has pulled out of the Ireland match with flu," the German FA (DFB) announced on its official website. "On Monday, midfielder Christoph Kramer...
No comments:
Post a Comment