CHINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says he expects Michael Owen will score plenty of goals in the Premier league

Record ID: 336015

  • Title: CHINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says he expects Michael Owen will score plenty of goals in the Premier league
  • Date: 26th July 2009
  • Summary: HANGZHOU, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA (JULY 25, 2009) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS AT START OF TRAINING AT STADIUM PLAYERS WALKING ONTO PITCH FANS CHEERING STRIKER WAYNE ROONEY SHOOTING AT GOAL BALL GOING INTO GOAL MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS TRAINING STADIUM ROONEY PUNCHING BALL STUCK ON NET OF GOAL STRIKER DIMITAR BERBATOV LOOKING ON PHOTOGRAPHERS STRIKER FE
  • Embargoed: 10th August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3TVINGLBFRGRNF0UARAXQYK1O
  • Story Text: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson knows how many goals he wants new signing Michael Owen to score next season -- "plenty".
    Owen moved to the English champions as a free agent after a torrid couple of years at Newcastle United, but on Saturday (July 25) Ferguson backed the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker to maintain the same scoring rate he has over his career.
    Owen has already found the net twice in three games on United's pre-season tour of Asia, which concludes with a match against Hangzhou Greentown on Sunday.
    United trained ahead of the match on Saturday (July 25) in front of an enthusiastic crowd of local supporters who cheered their heroes from the stands.
    With domestic and European rivals such as Manchester City and Real Madrid breaking the bank with big-name signings this close season, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was asked at a news conference whether he was feeling more pressure in his 13th year at Old Trafford than in the past.
    But Ferguson said his aim for the club next season is still going to be the same high standards he has set for them every year.
    "Every year there is a big expectation and it never changes. Our aim is always to be number one and our aim is also to win a major trophy," he said.
    Ferguson also said he wanted new signing Michael Owen to score "plenty" of goals next season.
    Owen moved to the English champions as a free agent after a torrid couple of years at Newcastle United, but Ferguson backed the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker to maintain the same scoring rate he has over his career.
    Owen has already found the net twice in three games on United's pre-season tour of Asia.
    "He (Michael Owen) is capable of easing again to that level, one (goal) in two games or every three games. And I think that if he plays 25 games for me next season, I think we'll give 15 goals," Ferguson said.
    Despite losing Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentine Carlos Tevez from his strike-force in the close season, Ferguson has no shortage of fire-power at his disposal Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Federico Macheda all scored in United's 3-2 win over FC Seoul on Friday.
    Midfielder Ryan Giggs said the club would cope well in the new season despite the loss of important players such as Ronaldo and Tevez.
    "We lose great players and the club doesn't stand still. We still look forward. We've signed Michael Owen and he's a proven world-class striker. So everyone's excited about the new season. Yes, we've lost two key players but we've had that in the past and we've been successful.
    More than a hundred Manchester United fans had more to cheer about on Saturday (July 25) as they took part in a fans party at the team hotel with defenders John O'Shea, Fabio and midfielders Nani and Anderson.
    The crowd cheered as the players attempted to write Chinese characters in an impromptu competition and some supporters also got a chance to pit themselves against the Manchester United players in a Playstation soccer game during the event.
    United beat Malaysian opposition twice on the first leg of their tour but had to miss a trip to Indonesia after the hotel bombings in Jakarta, Indonesia.
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