UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Manchester United game plan is one or two away goals in Champions League match with Chelsea
Record ID:
1542722
UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Manchester United game plan is one or two away goals in Champions League match with Chelsea
- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Manchester United game plan is one or two away goals in Champions League match with Chelsea
- Date: 6th April 2011
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (APRIL 6, 2011) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEX FERGUSON SAYING "The name of the game is two go back to Old Trafford hopefully with a goal in our pocket or hopefully two goals. It won't change our attitude to try to win the match but we will certainly want to make sure we go back with a live chance, a great chance, of qualifying and if we do that and go back to Old Trafford with some advantage we will be very, very difficult to beat on our own ground." VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEX FERGUSON SAYING : "I think there's no question, I said that last week, I think it is Abramovich's driving force, I think that's why he paid 50 million for Torres. I think that is without question. You know he will be desperate to win the European Cup, no more desperate than we are." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEX FERGUSON SAYING "It is different for every player you cant say every player is the same. We've had our own experiences of players join the club that it takes them quite a while to settle. I don't think it is abnormal, I think it is, every one is different." PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEX FERGUSON SPEAKING "Well we used to have a fantastic record down in London against Chelsea for many, many years and you are right , the last few years have been poor for us in terms of results but we have played well most of the times and hopefully we can do that tomorrow." QUESTION: WHAT IS WAYNE ROONEY'S INJURY? (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEX FERGUSON SPEAKING "It was just the front of his shin got a really bad bruise so he had some treatment this morning and hopefully will be OK." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEFENDER PATRICE EVRA SAYING: "You know I think the key of the type of game we played against Chelsea in Manchester is concentration, because we played better than them but we have to be concentrated until the last minute." REPORTERS AT NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 21st April 2011 09:31
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Sport
- Reuters ID: LVABXX1PA1DPENLWZJVRV1ECWIM4
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Having failed to win on his last 10 visits to Chelsea, Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is hoping a "European approach" to Wednesday's (April 6) Champions League quarter-final first leg will tilt the tie in his favour.
Chelsea have won six and drawn four of the teams' last 10 meetings at Stamford Bridge, including last month's 2-1 Premier League victory. United's last success was a 3-0 win in 2002.
"The name of the game is two go back to Old Trafford hopefully with a goal in our pocket or hopefully two goals," Ferguson said. "It won't change our attitude to try to win the match but we will certainly want to make sure we go back with a live chance, a great chance, of qualifying and if we do that and go back to Old Trafford with some advantage we will be very, very difficult to beat on our own ground."
"We used to have fantastic record there and although the last few years have been poor in terms of results we have played well most of the time," Ferguson told a news conference at Lord's cricket ground, just across the road from United's team hotel.
While United are going strong on three fronts as they lead the Premier League and face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals, Chelsea's only realistic hope of a trophy this season is the biggest one of all.
"There's no question it's (owner) Roman Abramovich's driving force," Ferguson said, adding that seemed why the Russian billionaire had bought Fernando Torres for 50 million pounds (81 million U.S. dollars).
"They'll be desperate to win the European Cup -- but no more desperate than we are."
The United manager said he did not find it strange or abnormal that Torres had yet to find his form and score goals consistently for Chelsea.
He also explained why Wayne Rooney did not train on Tuesday, saying he had a bruise on his shin but was receiving treatment and was expected to play on Wednesday.
Fullback Patrice Evra echoed his manager's feeling that United's poor run at Stamford Bridge was not a fair reflection of their performances.
"You know I think the key of the type of game we played against Chelsea in Manchester is concentration, because we played better than them but we have to be concentrated until the last minute," he said.
The teams' only previous meeting in the Champions League was the 2008 final, decided in United's favour via a penalty shootout. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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