LAST DERBY SAW CAREERS ON THE LINE
Last updated : 06 February 2003 By Editor
"It was probably the worst thing that has happened in my career. There were
careers on the line after that game because if you are not performing, the
manager will show you the door. I can't describe how I felt in the dressing
room. It wasn't just the result but the performance. People questioned our
hunger and desire after the game but everyone tried their hardest, we just
didn't perform well at all."
"I was one of those players and I was as disappointed as any fan on the
street. Looking back, the pleasing thing was how we reacted to the defeat but
I wouldn't say losing to City was a blessing in disguise because at the time it
was the worst feeling in the world."
"After the City game we had Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal and the
manager told us in no uncertain terms that we had to get maximum points
from those games. It was do or die and in those situations you see the real
Manchester United. If you asked any United fan they would say in the run we
went on after the City defeat they saw a Man United team fighting to the
death."
"Playing in midfield has probably harmed my chances of getting into the
England squad. Having said that, if I'm playing well in midfield for United then
there's no reason why I can't be selected for England as a midfielder. That
would really be a great achievement for me."
'It was inevitable I would make way when Roy was fit again. He is our captain,
our leader and our best player. But my challenge now is to get into midfield
and play alongside him and I'm up for having a go at it."
"I love playing in midfield and the manager has told me that he sees me as a
midfielder at the moment, whereas in the past I saw myself as just a stop-gap
replacement. But it went so well that I think `There's a spot for me in midfield'
especially if we play the 4-5-1 system."
