SOCCER:ALEX FERGUSON has ended his media silence by accepting Manchester United have no excuses for their performance at Liverpool and admitting that the defeat leaves Arsenal as an increasingly serious danger to his hopes of returning the Premier League trophy to Old Trafford.
Ferguson did not comment about the controversies surrounding United’s third successive league defeat at Anfield, most notably the tackle by Jamie Carragher that split open Nani’s left leg, and he refrained from discussing his reasons for imposing a media blackout after the game.
However, the United manager, preparing to face Arsenal in an FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford on Saturday, was clearly aggrieved by the team’s performance. “I have no excuses for the poor performance at Liverpool, who were the better team and deserved their win,” Ferguson said. “I was disappointed because we didn’t perform to the level I expect and which, to be fair, we generally achieve.”
Ferguson expressed mild surprise about how Arsene Wenger’s side have emerged as United’s most credible challengers for the title. Ferguson had been prepared for Chelsea to be the most significant threat.
“Last season they faded around the February to March period to leave Chelsea and ourselves in a two-horse race that saw us pipped at the post. I think most pundits expected to see something similar this season, plus a challenge from Spurs and Manchester City to make it even more difficult for Arsenal to get back to the top.
“But Arsene Wenger and his players have rearranged the pecking order somewhat to come storming through to lie in second place. Clearly they represent the main danger to us achieving our ambitions in a revival of the rivalry of a few years ago, and I am sure they regard us as the major threat to their hopes.”
Ferguson’s preparations for the game on Saturday have been hampered by Nani’s injury, with the winger expected to be out for up to a fortnight. Antonio Valencia played for an hour in a behind-closed-doors match this week and could be included in the squad for the first time since breaking his leg last September. Park Ji-sung may also be involved after his hamstring strain.
After losing two successive games playing 4-4-2, Ferguson is considering reverting to the 4-5-1 formation he usually favours when United play their main rivals, and that helped the team to a 1-0 defeat of Arsenal in December.
Jack Wilshere, meanwhile, is determined that the 4-3 aggregate defeat by Barcelona that knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League should not undermine their attempt to win a Premier League and FA Cup double.
“We have got great mental strength,” Wilshere said. “There is disappointment in the dressingroom, yes, but we have got to pick ourselves up and go to Manchester United to get the win. It is massive. We are still in two competitions, three points behind United in the league with a game in hand. Maybe now we are out of Europe, we can be stronger in the league, concentrate on that more, and really push on to try to win it.”
GuardianService
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