Pleased as punch worthwhile trip for Ferguson

ALEX Ferguson was predictably pleased with the way the night had gone with the veteran acknowledging that it had been a good night for him and his team.

“I thought it was great night. I enjoyed it even more when Ireland scored. Even though most of the crowd was supporting United but when Ireland scored all of them were cheering them on, it was a very nice moment.”

The Scot said he was pleased to see to see leading players get solid half games under their belt and expressed confidence that they would be fit enough to play all 90 of the opening league game against Newcastle United. That game, he went on to suggest, could mark the start of a very big season for Darron Gibson.

“We expect Darron to play a big part this season. Last season he made his mark for me by scoring six goals. When Paul Scholes was Darron’s age, he was getting 15 but playing a lot more games and I like to think if I gave Darron 20 games or so he’d give me 10 goals back.

“Without doubt he’s got the ability to be a top player, He’s got the power, the physique the shooting ability, everything he needs to be a very good player indeed.”

John O’Shea, meanwhile, said it had been “a very proud moment, one I’ll never forget to lead the team out for the opening game at the Aviva Stadium.”

Damien Richardson said his side’s defeat was no worse than he expected given the vast physical superiority of the players fielded by Ferguson.

Richardson joked that he had expected the visitors to get eight when asked whether he had surprised by the scale of the defeat.

“Anyone who looks at those two teams and says that the result is a surprise is living in a different world to me,” he said. “We were playing one of the very best teams in the world of football and for me the result was never in any doubt whatsoever.

“The difference between United’s and our professional fitness was absolutely amazing. The lesson was very clear. While we will never reach the level that Manchester United are at we still have to show the ambition to achieve the improvement that we can and that can only be done by embracing full-time professionalism.”

– Emmet Malone