UNITED KINGDOM: Manchester United boss Ferguson untroubled by his team's injury problems

Record ID: 336250

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Manchester United boss Ferguson untroubled by his team's injury problems
  • Date: 24th April 2007
  • Summary: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (APRIL 23, 2007) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS PLAYING VOLLEYBALL USING THEIR FEET GABRIEL HEINZE DURING PLAY WAYNE ROONEY PASSING BALL WITH TEAMMATES CRISTIANO RONALDO KICKING BALL AND SMILING ALAN SMITH DURING PLAY RYAN GIGGS WATCHING TEAMMATES PLAY CRISTIANO RONALDO DURING PRACTICE WAYNE ROONEY ROLLS ON FLOOR AND SMILES, THEN GE
  • Embargoed: 9th May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5B12JL0XFUAATXSNRKUYHZDVA
  • Story Text: Injuries to defender Rio Ferdinand and midfielder Kieran Richardson in Saturday's (April 21) 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough mean that seven of United's first-team squad are on the treatment table before their first leg of Champions League semi-final at Old Trafford on Tuesday (April 24).
    Worse still for manager Alex Ferguson, the problems have focused on a defence that badly needs to deny Milan an away goal before United's trip to the San Siro next Wednesday (May 2).
    Ferdinand, who will also miss the second leg with a groin strain, joins fellow defenders Gary Neville, Mikael Silvestre and Nemanja Vidic on the injury list.
    To add to their woes, central defender Craig Cathcart, who had just been drafted in from United's youth ranks as cover, has suffered a long-term injury in training.
    But United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was upbeat about his team's chances of keeping a clean sheet. Speaking at a news conference at Old Trafford on Monday (April 23) he said:
    "The important players are available for tomorrow, so the one problem I have is maybe I have an inadequate bench but we're happy with the squad I'm playing tomorrow. Obviously you do miss players like Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville for big matches like tomorrow, and Louis Saha obviously, but the spirit of the team is good."
    United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar said the English league leaders would be helped by their strong team spirit.
    He said: "Of course it's a good time to be in the dressing room. Everything is going well, our position in the league, the semi final of the Champions League, the final of the FA Cup, It's good to be involved here and unfortunately we've got two or three injuries to the players squad wise (we are) joking around with the players and the training it goes well."
    Ferguson paid tribute to flying winger Cristiano Ronaldo whom on Sunday (April 22) was named the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, as well as passing on his good wishes to stricken Portuguese soccer legend Eusebio. The 65-year-old Eusebio had surgery to unclog an artery on Monday (April 23).
    "I think that we've seen the progress of Cristiano this season, he's been absolutely fantastic. In mind at the moment he's the best player in the world and I think you can't say that lightly given that there are some fantastic footballers there. And I heard this morning about Eusebio and I think everyone at Manchester United wishes him good luck," Ferguson said.
    Ronaldo is the first player to win both awards in the same season since Andy Gray in 1977.
    United, who routed AS Roma 7-1 at home two weeks ago, will look to Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney to use their pace and strike power to pressurize a Milan defence that includes 38-year-old Paolo Maldini.
    Ferguson said it was difficult to know whether the experience of Maldini or the exuberance of youth of Ronaldo and United team-mate Rooney was more valuable in a Champions League semi final.
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