Red News - 10/11: Sir Alex i fokus
I Red News sammanfattas dagen som gått.
Sir Alex firar 25 år
Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson har spenderat sina 25 senaste år som tränare för Manchester United. Behöver väl inte sägas hur stor den bedriften egentligen är. Under denna tid har han klarat av generationsväxlingar, byggt nya lag och vunnit titlar. Sir Alex symboliserar The United Way. Bland andra får han beröm för sina fantastiska 25 år som kapten för det här röda skeppet.
David Gill: "As chief executive, I'm involved in all areas but the key working relationship is with the manager at any club. My relationship with Alex has developed over the years. We both have formal meetings and things like that but it's very much built on an informal working relationship, built up on trust over that period. We trust each other implicitly and I think it's been of benefit to Manchester United.
In the world of sport, where things are measured in very short time-frames, to be at one club for 25 years is obviously phenomenal. I think all the usual adjectives and superlatives quite rightly apply in this situation. Frankly, it's amazing to maintain that motivation and hunger for success in a very demanding environment for 25 years and it's quite rightly regarded as a brilliant achievement. I think his record is there for everyone to see. He's managed to sustain that level of success over that period by reinventing the team. Players clearly haven't got a shelf-life of 25 years so he's managed to change teams at appropriate times and deliver sustained success.
The world of sport these days is so competitive and to continue that over that period, I think is truly fantastic. He is clearly as the media see him - very motivated, competitive and wants to win. All those attributes let him have that success but, at the same time, he's witty with a good sense of humour. He's also interested in other areas like racing, fine wines and American history. I think he's got a lot of interests outside of football and he's also a very generous man in terms of support for other managers who have fallen on hard times. He retains friendships for many, many years and his attendance at funerals is probably one of the highest in the country, recognising people who have been in his life and honouring them when they sadly pass away. He has many, many attributes much wider than the driven man you see on TV week in and week out.
He's very supportive, very loyal and, at the same time, he's very black and white with firm opinions. Most successful people do have firm opinions and stick to them. Certainly, it'll be difficult to replace him - it's naive to say anything other than that but we are a great club whose values go back in history to our heritage to the 50s and 60s and the last 25 years with Alex. To continue with that, the new manager needs to understand those values and the vision for the club and must buy into that. The important point to make is the new manager, whenever that may be and whomever that may be, will be taking over a great, great club, in a great, great sport and Alex, in particular, will want to make sure he inherits a great squad. That's our goal - to make sure when the new manager comes in he does have a great squad to work with in terms of age and profile etc.
Alex's legacy to United is to my mind very clear - delivering an unprecedented period of success in the Manchester United way. By that, I mean attractive football using young players - both homegrown and buying players when necessary like Ronaldo and Rooney, but actually developing our own players. That record is there for everyone to see and that legacy is very clear also. Within that, he's made sure he's cemented United's position as one of the top clubs in world football. We're very well respected clearly in this country and around the world, you only have to see our following there on tour in America and Asia, plus in Europe when you speak to any other club. United are rightly held in very high esteem down in no small measure to what Alex has achieved in the last 25 years.
What adjectives would I use to describe Alex? Competitive, determined, generous and fascinating. All those sort of things - on and off the pitch. I wouldn't say I'm exempt from the hairdryer but I would say I can give as good as I get. The important thing I notice from Alex is there's been probably half a dozen of these hairdryer-type moments give and take over the last eight years as chief executive. The important thing is he never sulks, he never carries it on and we move on. That's a great thing about Alex, he can have an opinion and blow his top but it's forgotten like that and I think that's the true measure of the man."
David Beckham: What do you remember about your first meeting with the boss?
It was when I went to the Bobby Charlton Soccer School when I was 11 and I saw him again at the Soccer School final at Old Trafford. After that he used to invite me to come to a lot of United games, including all the London ones, and he’d take me into the dressing room afterwards and let me have some of the players’ kit [as a souvenir]. I absolutely loved it because I was such a big United fan and all I ever wanted to do was play for Manchester United. To be in his presence was a dream come true and the fact that he looked after me in that way and let me be around the players made me feel special. He made me feel part of the club even when I wasn’t. That was one of the big reasons I wanted to play for Manchester United. Yes, it was a boyhood dream of mine, but the way the club and Sir Alex in particular treated young lads like myself made you want to play for the club even more. Thankfully I was lucky enough to do that and the one man that made it possible was the boss.
So it’s fair to say he was a real father figure as well as a manager to you?
He was to all the young lads. He was so good to me because I’d moved up north from London on my own without my parents or any family, and he treated me like a father would. He was strict with me when he needed to be and when I needed an arm around me he was there. He was there for all of us. He always told us his door was open if we ever needed him although we were a bit scared to go into his office sometimes! He was definitely more than just a manager and he looked after us all.
You shared so many great memories with him while you were here, but what’s your favourite?
Wow, that’s a tough question because there were so many. The time I spent at United was the greatest of my career and the best moments of my football life were there. I think the day I signed as a young kid will always stick out. It was on my birthday before a game at Old Trafford and I remember the manager had organised a cake for me. I’ve got a photo of the two of us when I signed and it’s one of my favourite pictures from my career. He made a real fuss of me that day and, despite the fact I was leaving home and my family, I knew I was doing the right thing by signing for United. Obviously winning the Treble was so special – I still remember him saying to us at half-time, 'You don’t want to walk past that trophy having not won it.' What a night it turned out to be. Another great memory is when we won our first Premier League title; everyone had doubted us but the manager stuck with us and showed the trust he had in us as a group. There have been so many great memories over the years, but if I had to pick one I’d have to say the day I signed for the club is the ultimate memory I have with the boss.
How much credit would you give him for the way your career has turned out?
Almost all of it. It’s 50/50 with my parents – that’s how highly I regard the boss. My parents were the ones that brought me up and helped get me to a certain level in my career, and the manager is the one who took me to a whole different level of playing for Manchester United and for England. He was the one who gave me my chance as a young kid. He gave me my debut at Brighton [in September 1992] and my Champions League debut against Galatasaray, when I played at Old Trafford and scored my first goal for the club. He’s the sole reason why I was successful at United and in my career. You see so many young players fall by the wayside but under the boss that was never going to happen. He looked after us all and gave us everything we needed to become the players and the men that we are today. Twenty-five years is a long time to spend in charge at any club, but to do it here is something quite incredible, isn’t it?
It just doesn’t happen in football anymore. That loyalty and respect for just one club is unbelievable and it’s not something you see these days. It says a lot about Manchester United as a club and a lot about the manager when you consider how long he’s been there, and just look at the success we’ve had over the years. It’s been amazing. But that’s what happens when you have stability and a man who is so passionate and hungry and has the love for one club that he has.
What is it that makes him the greatest manager of all time?
Everything. It’s everything about him, and everything that he does is always for the good of the club. He doesn’t do things just to please himself, he does them because he thinks that’s what is best for the team, the club and the fans. That’s why he’s loved the way he is and why he has the respect that he’s got. Of course, part of that is down to the success he’s had and the trophies he’s won over the years, but the majority of it is down to the way he does things. He commands that respect and every player that comes to Manchester United is the right player for the club. He doesn’t just bring players in because they’re some of the best in the world, he does it because they fit into the Manchester United family. I feel so honoured to have played under him for so many years and I’ll never forget the moments I shared with the greatest manager in football.
Federico Macheda: "He has a strong mentality and a winning mentality. He treats every player on the same level. You can be Wayne Rooney or be me – he treats everyone on the same level. That’s great for everyone in the team.
Obviously there are players who are doing better but if they make a mistake he treats them like he has to. He makes them understand that they have made a mistake.
To be at Manchester United at my age is not easy so every time I get a game he always tells me what to do. I enjoy working with him – he is a great person because he treats you like you are his son and makes you laugh. He has achieved everything. He is the manager who has won the most trophies in the world. To be at this club for 25 years – he must be special."
Kuszczak talar ut
Tomasz Kuszczak, som under hela sin karriär i den röda tröjan fått se sig bänkad av bättre målvakter, har under en period velat bort från klubben. Detta i hopp om mer speltid inför EM som närmar sig. Nu talar han ut om det missförstånd som ska ha skett i samband med en intervju för polska tidningen SuperExpress.
"In response to recent press reports in the English media, I would like to set the record straight by clarifying that I did not use the word ‘slave’ in a recent interview I gave to the Polish newspaper SuperExpress, about my current position at Manchester United Football Club. At no point during the interview did I use the word ‘slave’, or imply that the Club was treating me like a ‘slave’. Indeed what I did say has either been misinterpreted or mis-reported. It is important to clear this mis-information up because I have the utmost respect for the Club and have not described my relationship with the Club in this way because it is simply not the case."
Phil Jones inför England - Spanien
Jones, som gjort succé med Manchester United den här säsongen, ser fram emot mötet med Spanien på lördag, och tror att England kan ta en seger mot världsmästarna.
"Psychologically, it would be massive for us to get a positive result. It would be a real boost for us all to go into the championships knowing we have beaten a really good team. It's always nice to test yourself against the best. We know they are a good team, but we are a good team as well. There is a good mix of experience and youth players as well. Hopefully that will be enough for us to have a go on Saturday and give a good account of ourselves. I'm sure if we get in amongst them and play the way we know we can, we will have a good chance.
I can't wait for the game. If I am asked to play it would be a great honour to represent my country against one of the best teams in the world. It's just a real honour to be in and around the national team. Hopefully my performances at club level can show that I am worthy of being here more regularly.
I don't see why we can't surprise a few people (about England's chances next summer). We have a great squad, with a great mentality. I'm sure we can go there with a great chance of getting to the final stages, if not going all the way. We have got a lot of experience in the squad, as well as youth now. That combination will hopefully be enough to go to the tournament with a fantastic chance."
Johnstones lån förlängs
18 årige Sam Johnstone har imponerat mellan stolparna i Scunthorpe. En skada har dock hindrat honom från spel, men nu återvänder han till Alan Knills lag. Johnstone är på lån fram tills den 9 december.
"It was just unfortunate for Sam that he picked up an injury in training while he was back here actually. But he will be going back when he's fit again." - säger reservlagets tränare Warren Joyce.
Skador och avstängningar
Michael Owen (lårmuskel) - Inget datum satt
Tom Cleverley (vrist/fot) - Inget datum satt
Chris Smalling (vrist/fot) - 3 december
Federico Macheda (armbåge) - 15 november
Övrigt
Fabio spelade från start i Brasiliens 2-0 seger över Gabon.
På manutd.com har du nu chansen att vinna Scholes självbiografi, signerad av självaste the Ginger Prince, och en "Sir Alex Ferguson Celebration of 25 years" bok. Svara på en fråga var om dessa två herrar (3 alternativ) och gå med i tävlingen. Kanske har du tur (troligtvis inte).
F.d. United-spelaren Michael Appleton är klar som ny tränare för Portsmouth. Appleton lirade i rött 1994-97, under Sir Alex.
