Fergie plans to keep his stand-ins
MANCHESTER, England: SirAlex Ferguson insists he will not allow any Manchester United playersto leave the club on loan as they continue to fight on four frontsheading into the new year.
The likes of Danny Welbeck, Manucho and Rodrigo Possebon would all haveplenty of suitors if Ferguson was to allow them to leave Old Traffordon a temporary basis.
But, having squeezed into the League Cup semi-finals on Wedneday with a5-3 win over Blackburn, as well as being two Premier League matchesbehind their rivals when they return from the World Club Championshipslater this month, Ferguson is determined to keep his squad together.
The draw for the League Cup last four, where United could faceTottenham, Derby or Burnley, will take place on Saturday. And Fergusonfeels he has enough on his plate to reject any requests to take hisfringe players out on loan.
He said: "Nowwe're in the semi-final that's two extra games of course and gettingfixtures and getting dates for those games is going to be difficultbecause we've got to find dates for Fulham and for Wigan and it's notgoing to be easy.
"The one good thing is that we've got a big strong squad, I won't beletting anyone else out on loan and I want to keep everyone togetherbecause I'm going to need them.
"It's all about taking their chance when it comes and they have donethat and I'm pleased with that but more importantly it adds to my squadwhen we're coming in the second half of the season.
"We've got something like eight games in 26 days and I've got the squad to cope with that. It's a great bonus we've got now."
Ferguson feels that his youngsters have shown that they are capable ofmaking the step up to first-team action throughout their League Cup run.
He added:"Playing against Middlesbrough, QPR and against Blackburn, we learntsomething from them, their temperament, their ability to play in frontof the crowd at Old Trafford.
"They're never phased, that's the important thing. These young players have come through well."
Another bonus for Ferguson was that Paul Scholes came through 25 minutes after three months out with a knee injury.
And the Scot was pleased to see the former England man prove hisfitness and he said: "It's an extra player to bring in to the squad."
Although there was some doubt about whether Carlos Tevez or Blackburn'sAaron Mokoena scored the first in United's 5-3 victory, the Argentinianwas delighted with his four-goal haul - the first time he has scored ahat-trick in English football.
Tevez said: "I'm very pleased to score four goals because it's the first time I've done it in my career.
"I'm pleased because I don't play much and it shows we can play in Premier League, the Champions League and any competition."
Nani scored United's second before Benni McCarthy pulled one back for Rovers just after half time at Old Trafford.
Tevez restored the lead from the penalty spot and added a fourth onlyfor Matt Derbyshire and McCarthy to pull goals back before theArgentina front-man scored United's fifth.
Blackburn, who lost 3-2 at Portsmouth at the weekend, are rooted in thedrop zone ahead of Saturday's clash with Liverpool and their managerPaul Ince said: "We keep doing it to ourselves. "We did it atPortsmouth and then we did it again against Manchester United. We'veshown we can score goals, we've just got to keep them out." |
發表於 2008-12-4 08:37 PM
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