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Wary Ferguson singles out Wenger as main title rival
Daniel Taylor
Saturday September 29, 2007
The Guardian
Sir Alex Ferguson has given Avram Grant a show of support by insisting that Chelsea are still equipped to challenge for the title but, in the wake of Jose Mourinho's departure, the Manchester United manager appears to have identified Arsenal as the most credible rival to his own side.
While believing that Chelsea could recover from the loss of Mourinho, Ferguson feels that the major threat from London is likely to come from the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal are the early pacesetters at the top of the Premier League, having won five of their opening six games, and Ferguson has been impressed by the slick manner in which Arsène Wenger's team have taken apart their opponents.
"They have started the season well and their form is very good," said Ferguson. "They have produced some very good performances and, in doing so, they have laid down a marker."
Arsenal's impressive start to the season, leaving them two points ahead of United with a game in hand, means Ferguson's main rivalry in English football is likely to revert to being with Wenger, particularly now that Mourinho is no longer around to stir things up.
Grant, a relative newcomer to the Premier League, is more of an unknown quantity, but Ferguson still believes Chelsea have sufficient talent in their squad to launch a sustained challenge. "They got a good result on Wednesday, 4-0 away from home [at Hull]. Avram Grant will have been keen to get a win under his belt and that will help him no end. People are talking about other teams breaking into the top four but I don't think you can dismiss Chelsea - how can you with the players they have got?"
Of his own side, Ferguson said he was satisfied with their form, but his mood was tinged by a sense of frustration from knowing that they should have been more ruthless in front of goal. The 2-0 defeat of Chelsea last weekend was United's fifth victory in a row, but Ferguson is still waiting for his team to reach their most exhilarating heights and he admitted being bewildered by their lack of goals.
"We've played seven games and scored only six goals and that is highly unusual for us," he said. "Over the years we have always managed a far bigger percentage of goals. But the goals will come. We've played three teams this season who have failed to win a corner-kick against us. I don't think any other team in the world could boast that statistic. Yes, we would have liked to have scored more goals but the performance levels have been very good most of the time."
The exception came on Wednesday when a team largely made up of reserves and youth academy graduates lost 2-0 to Coventry City in the Carling Cup, a performance that led to strident criticism from the manager. "It was a shock and there is no point trying to find excuses for it," he said. "It's a great lesson for young people because the basic principle of a cup tie is you have to fight. Coventry fought harder than us, they were aggressive, they got about us and that was the foundation of their victory.
"We looked at the Carling Cup as an avenue for these players to get games but now that has gone, [they] are going to have to go out on loan. There are one or two we will have to keep but I'm looking at the rest going out because, otherwise, when are they going to get any football?"
Daniel Taylor
Saturday September 29, 2007
The Guardian
Sir Alex Ferguson has given Avram Grant a show of support by insisting that Chelsea are still equipped to challenge for the title but, in the wake of Jose Mourinho's departure, the Manchester United manager appears to have identified Arsenal as the most credible rival to his own side.
While believing that Chelsea could recover from the loss of Mourinho, Ferguson feels that the major threat from London is likely to come from the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal are the early pacesetters at the top of the Premier League, having won five of their opening six games, and Ferguson has been impressed by the slick manner in which Arsène Wenger's team have taken apart their opponents.
"They have started the season well and their form is very good," said Ferguson. "They have produced some very good performances and, in doing so, they have laid down a marker."
Arsenal's impressive start to the season, leaving them two points ahead of United with a game in hand, means Ferguson's main rivalry in English football is likely to revert to being with Wenger, particularly now that Mourinho is no longer around to stir things up.
Grant, a relative newcomer to the Premier League, is more of an unknown quantity, but Ferguson still believes Chelsea have sufficient talent in their squad to launch a sustained challenge. "They got a good result on Wednesday, 4-0 away from home [at Hull]. Avram Grant will have been keen to get a win under his belt and that will help him no end. People are talking about other teams breaking into the top four but I don't think you can dismiss Chelsea - how can you with the players they have got?"
Of his own side, Ferguson said he was satisfied with their form, but his mood was tinged by a sense of frustration from knowing that they should have been more ruthless in front of goal. The 2-0 defeat of Chelsea last weekend was United's fifth victory in a row, but Ferguson is still waiting for his team to reach their most exhilarating heights and he admitted being bewildered by their lack of goals.
"We've played seven games and scored only six goals and that is highly unusual for us," he said. "Over the years we have always managed a far bigger percentage of goals. But the goals will come. We've played three teams this season who have failed to win a corner-kick against us. I don't think any other team in the world could boast that statistic. Yes, we would have liked to have scored more goals but the performance levels have been very good most of the time."
The exception came on Wednesday when a team largely made up of reserves and youth academy graduates lost 2-0 to Coventry City in the Carling Cup, a performance that led to strident criticism from the manager. "It was a shock and there is no point trying to find excuses for it," he said. "It's a great lesson for young people because the basic principle of a cup tie is you have to fight. Coventry fought harder than us, they were aggressive, they got about us and that was the foundation of their victory.
"We looked at the Carling Cup as an avenue for these players to get games but now that has gone, [they] are going to have to go out on loan. There are one or two we will have to keep but I'm looking at the rest going out because, otherwise, when are they going to get any football?"
