Sir Alex: My terrific team
28/04/2011 19:00, Report by Adam Bostock
Sir Alex Ferguson has praised his players' winning mentality as the Reds enter the crucial final month of a dramatic and potentially historic season.
The manager told the club’s official magazine, Inside United: “This team doesn't understand the word defeat. It's determined, gritty and very professional, and it's produced some great moments."
On recent comments from an opposing manager, Didier Deschamps of Marseille, that the current United team lacks a bit of 'fantasy', Sir Alex said:
"It might not have the 'Ronaldo' factor, but it's not as if we’ve been devoid of that ['fantasy']. Some of the football we’ve seen from the players this season has been terrific."
The Reds boss also emphasised the high level of focus within his squad, insisting the opportunity to make history - by winning an English-record 19th title - isn't distracting his players from the task in hand.
"I don’t think it’s on our minds at the moment. If we achieve it, it’ll be great to reflect on, but at the moment we know we’ve got some hard games left. We look forward to the challenge, though.
"It’s important to keep momentum going by winning games. That’s vital. Draws don’t come into it now, it’s all about wins. We’ve got a big few games coming up and we need to win them."
Asked if such a pressurised time of the season saps energy from his team, or drives it on and energises it, Sir Alex offered a balanced assessment. He said: "It’s a bit of both. This is the greatest part of your job, though, having big game after big game. We’ve had some fantastic games over the years at this stage of the season, but we’ve also had some disappointments. You’ve just got to take the rough with the smooth.
"You just have to use your experience, and fortunately I’ve got a team of staff who have been with me for a long time. Having that continuity and consistency is a great thing - we know how to deal with situations.
"The players see how staff behave and how they conduct themselves in situations like we're in at the moment, and there's a lot of experience amongst the backroom team, which provides a calming influence. Two or three of the older players help too. The likes of Ryan [Giggs], Paul [Scholes], Rio [Ferdinand] and Edwin [van der Sar] - we've got enough experience to handle any situation that comes along."
When pressed on the importance of being at home for the team's final game of the season, on Sunday 22 May, Sir Alex said: "Well, I hope we’ve won it by that time! But if we have to win it on the final day as we’ve done a few times before, you welcome the fact you're at home. Obviously Blackpool may need to win themselves because of the relegation situation, so it could be a big game for both sides."
The boss is a big admirer of Ian Holloway's side and the positivity that's coloured their debut campaign in the Premier League. Sir Alex said: "Blackpool have been a breath of fresh air, particularly in the first half of the season when they were often scoring two and three goals away from home, and really attacking teams. Their manager has a great philosophy and they've done well.
Sir Alex also sees the Seasiders' boss Ian Holloway as viable candidate for Manager of the Year, saying: "He must come into it when you look at what he's achieved at Blackpool in the economic climate he works under. He's done a fantastic job."
As for his Player and Young Player of the Year, outside of his own squad, Sir Alex's head turned towards Tottenham - "Luka Modric" - and Sunday's opponents Arsenal: "I think the boy [Jack] Wilshere has really emerged as a great young talent this season."
The full interview with Sir Alex is in the new issue of Inside United, on sale from Wednesday 4 May. Fans attending the Schalke game at Old Trafford can buy it in a 'double deal' with the match programme. Subscriptions for both are also available.
"This team is determined, gritty and very professional, and some of the football we’ve seen from the players has been terrific."
- Sir Alex Ferguson
Credit: Manchester United (www.manutd.com)
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