- Title: USA: MANCHESTER UNITED'S ALEX FERGUSON ANNOUNCES TEAM SERIES IN UNITED STATES
- Date: 11th November 2003
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 11, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. NEWS CONFERENCE FOR MANCHESTER UNITED ANNOUNCEMENT 2. MANCHESTER UNITED COACH, SIR ALEX FERGUSON (RIGHT) AND CHAIRMAN CHAMPIONS WORLD, CHARLES STILLITANO (LEFT) 3. PRESS 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEX FERGUSON SAYING: "When the idea, the challenge to come to the States presented itself, I thought yeah this is worth doing simply because the United States has always been an athletic and sporting country. Young people aspire to many things through their heroes of Michael Jordan and these great stars. The Joe DiMaggio's and Babe Ruth's. We felt 'well it's worth going there simply because we could make an impact." 5. VARIOUS OF PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH FERGUSON AND STILLITANO 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEX FERGUSON SAYING: "You have obviously, because of the size of our club and because finance is related to sport in terms of being successful, who wants to be in debt. And we as a club try to make money because we want to have the best players. We have the best set up and that does cost money, but all my decisions are purely team oriented. I don't involve myself in the financial side of it. I think about what's best for my team.." 7. VARIOUS OF STILLITANO AND FERGUSON TALKING TO PRESS 8. (SOUNDBITE) REPORTER ASKING: "I've just recently heard that Peter Reid left Leeds. You don't fancy swapping over the Pennines" 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FERGUSON SAYING: "Miracles stopped a long time ago." 9. FERGUSON POSING FOR PICTURE WITH FAN Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 26th November 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVAEHBLTRRNEY9O0L21D7YXF81A
- Story Text: Manchester United's Alex Ferguson announces team
series in United States
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson confirmed on
Tuesday (November 11) the English champions will return to
the United States to play in a pre-season series in 2004.
Ferguson flew to New York to officially announce that
United would take part in three friendlies in the United
States between the end of July and beginning of August next
year.
"When the idea, the challenge to come to the States
presented itself, I thought yeah this is worth doing simply
because the United States has always been an athletic and
sporting country. Young people aspire to many things
through their heroes of Michael Jordan and these great
stars. The Joe DiMaggio's and Babe Ruth's. We felt 'well
it's worth going there simply because we could make an
impact," Ferguson said at a news conference.
The European opposition is still to be finalised, but
United will play in Chicago, New York and another, as yet
unconfirmed venue.
Promoters Champions World hope to match Germany's Bayern
Munich against United in Chicago, while the New
Jersey-based company is still in talks to bring over
Spanish giants Real Madrid as part of the pre-season
series.
Ferguson said he also hoped United would be invited to
the World Club Championship in July 2005, which could also
be staged in the U.S.
United, who have a marketing partnership with the New
York Yankees, won all four matches in their ground-breaking
tour of the U.S. this summer in front of large crowds and
increased awareness of the club's brand in a potentially
cash-rich soccer market which remains relatively untapped.
"You have obviously, because of the size of our club
and because finance is related to sport in terms of being
successful, who wants to be in debt. And we as a club try
to make money because we want to have the best players. We
have the best set up and that does cost money, but all my
decisions are purely team oriented. I don't involve myself
in the financial side of it. I think about what's best for
my team," Ferguson said.
When asked about the possibility of changing jobs to
head up Leeds after Peter Reid's departure, Ferguson said,
"Miracles stopped a long time ago."
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