FERGIE – WE CAN WIN THE EURO CUP AGAIN
"I've got another two years left on my current contract and
I think we are definitely capable of winning the Champions
League in that time. We can be proud of what we have
contributed to the Champions League over the last couple of
seasons, and I honestly believe that we are very close now
to where we want to be.
I think we are definitely capable of winning the Champions
League in that time. We can be proud of what we have
contributed to the Champions League over the last couple of
seasons, and I honestly believe that we are very close now
to where we want to be.
"We are improving all the time and I think that the only
thing we lack now is experience - particularly in defence.
Very few of our defenders can compare in terms of age and
experience to the likes of Madrid, Juventus and both Milan
clubs, but that aspect of our game will eventually come. All
teams that win Champions Leagues, or even World Cups, have
tremendous knowledge at the back.
thing we lack now is experience - particularly in defence.
Very few of our defenders can compare in terms of age and
experience to the likes of Madrid, Juventus and both Milan
clubs, but that aspect of our game will eventually come. All
teams that win Champions Leagues, or even World Cups, have
tremendous knowledge at the back.
"I am not talking about a change of style here, because at
Manchester United we have a philosophy about how the game
should be played - and that will never change, The way we
play is far too open at the moment. Part of that is down to
the culture of the Premiership, and some of it is down to
the fact that some of my players are inexperienced at the
very top level.
Manchester United we have a philosophy about how the game
should be played - and that will never change, The way we
play is far too open at the moment. Part of that is down to
the culture of the Premiership, and some of it is down to
the fact that some of my players are inexperienced at the
very top level.
"The game in Madrid illustrated just what is so good about
Manchester United, and the things we have to improve on. I
thought we could beat them. But on the night we lacked the
conviction to really push on to them and take them on in one-
on-one situations. My defenders didn't want to be left alone
with the likes of Ronaldo or Raul. They didn't have the
belief to handle them one-on-one. I know they are good
enough to do it. I know they can handle the best players in
the world and in the next couple of seasons they will start
to share that belief.
"When you look at Maldini, Nesta and Alessandro Costacurta
at Milan, it's an impressive back three, very solid and
experienced. And most of the Juventus team have been
together for six or seven years, especially the defence.
It's a lot older than ours. If you look at most top teams in
Europe, they generally have experience at the back - we are
well short in terms of that."
Manchester United, and the things we have to improve on. I
thought we could beat them. But on the night we lacked the
conviction to really push on to them and take them on in one-
on-one situations. My defenders didn't want to be left alone
with the likes of Ronaldo or Raul. They didn't have the
belief to handle them one-on-one. I know they are good
enough to do it. I know they can handle the best players in
the world and in the next couple of seasons they will start
to share that belief.
"When you look at Maldini, Nesta and Alessandro Costacurta
at Milan, it's an impressive back three, very solid and
experienced. And most of the Juventus team have been
together for six or seven years, especially the defence.
It's a lot older than ours. If you look at most top teams in
Europe, they generally have experience at the back - we are
well short in terms of that."