According to British newspaper The Sun, Manchester United have begun the search for their next manager after Ferguson told the board “One more season and I’m out”.

Former Chelsea manager and current Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho is the favourite to take over one of the most high-profile jobs in world football, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill, Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola and current England manager Fabio Capello also reportedly on the Manchester United radar.

Ferguson has created a dynasty at the Manchester club over the last 23 years, winning 11 English Premiership titles as well as 2 UEFA Champions League titles.

Source: sport24.co.za

The scenario has become a likelihood according to Fleet Street after Real Madrid’s capture of Karim Benzema prompted a number of broadsheet newspapers to predict that, short of options and reluctant to pay over the odds, Sir Alex Ferguson will not reinforce his arsenal after missing out on Benzema.

A refusal to add to his strikeforce in the summer that he has lost both Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez would constitute one of the bravest/most remarkable gambles Ferguson has ever taken in his twenty-year reign at Old Trafford. However, Fleet Street is unanimous in its belief that Benzema’s decision to move to Spain has left United reeling and short of options.

‘Benzema’s decision is a huge blow to United, who are understood to have made him their No 1 target after selling Ronaldo to Madrid for £80m,’ reports The Daily Mail. ‘It is also a further indication of both Madrid’s ambition and the shift of power to the Spanish league.’

Only The Guardian says that United did not enter – and lose – a bidding war with Madrid for the French youngster. ‘Ferguson’s long-standing admiration for the 21-year-old Lyon player never manifested itself in the form of a concerted attempt to bring him to Old Trafford as a replacement for Carlos Tevez,’ the newspaper claims. ‘Instead, United have left Madrid unchallenged to add yet another striker to their already bloated squad.’

However, that soothing account is flatly contradicted by every other daily-selling publication. ‘Once United became aware that Lyon had accepted Real’s bid they then submitted an offer of 40 million euros (£35 million),’ says The Daily Telegraph. ‘However Benzema was already too far progressed in his discussions with Real, having also spoken to United, and the Spanish club were also willing to add extra payments, depending on targets and bonuses, which meant their bid came in slightly higher than United’s.’

So who does Ferguson turn to next?

Probably nobody declares The Times in something of a bombshell announcement:

‘Ferguson, the United manager, has made it clear privately that he will not pay over the odds, or be forced into signing a striker if the right one is not available, just because of the departures of Ronaldo and Carlos Tévez.

‘Some well-placed sources have claimed that Ferguson may not even sign a striker this summer and will instead look to Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov to spearhead United’s attack next season. Injuries to either player, however, would leave his front line severely depleted.’

Although David Villa, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Sergio Agüero, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Samuel Eto’o and even Michael Owen are all mooted as possible alternatives for Ferguson to pursue, none is given a ringing endorsement.

Villa is expected to join Madrid or Barcelona if he does leave Valencia, Huntelaar’s reputation has suffered in Spain, Agüero is considered over-priced at £38.6million, Ibrahimovic ‘has rarely fired against the physical presence of English sides’, while the age of the 28-year-old Eto’o counts against him, as does his African Nations Cup obligation in January. And Owen?

‘The prospect is an intriguing one,’ muses The Independent. ‘Ferguson tried to sign the 29-year-old as a youngster and there have been rumours that he has returned with inquiries since. The £40,000 a week Owen might be prepared to accept will certainly not hurt United and there are enough attacking options at Old Trafford to make the risk of injuries to which Owen has become prone less of a problem than at most other clubs.

‘A possibility, perhaps, but the good money now has to be on Ferguson not seeking further front line reinforcements.’

Source: football365.com

Before then United face relegation-threatened Hull in their final league game of the season next weekend, but Ferguson admitted his players were already looking forward to facing the Spanish league leaders.

“Now we’ve won the league we’re bouncing into the final in Rome,” said Ferguson as he savoured his 11th English title since taking charge of United in 1986.

“It’s a game everyone at this club is looking forward to and rightly so. But we will enjoy this moment for now.

“This is a terrific achievement and I have to praise the character and spirit of my players. They have been terrific.”

Several players who featured against Arsenal are likely to be rested for United’s final league game ahead of the showpiece European final.

Edwin van der Sar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez are set to sit out the match at Hull.

Ferguson, who sent his brother Martin to scout Barca against Mallorca on Sunday, is 68 in December and there have been suggestions that he is ready to call time on his managerial career.

But the Scot insisted that was not the case and he is already determined to steer United to a record 19th title, one more than bitter rivals Liverpool.

“I am not contemplating it (retirement),” Ferguson said. “I am definitely not contemplating it. I am going to carry on and my health will tell me when to quit.”

Ferguson admitted Liverpool had been formidable opponents who had put his side under severe pressure after winning 4-1 at Old Trafford in March.

“They have done well,” Ferguson said. “They had a period when they won 4-1 here. That was a travesty of a result, because it was never a 4-1 result.

“But they gained great impetus from that and we didn’t recover, we lost the next game (at Fulham).

“That gave Liverpool the scent and, credit to them, they took it and they battled away.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger paid tribute to Ferguson and his side on winning the title before promising United that the Gunners will provide his champions with a sterner test next season.

United were forced to endure some nervous moments against Wenger’s side before getting their hands on the title.

“What he (Ferguson) has done is exceptional and I congratulate him,” said Wenger.

“It’s fantastic what they have done this season. They have won the League Cup, made the semi-finals of the FA Cup and have the Champions League final to look forward to. Their overall achievement is remarkable.”

Although there is one game of the season remaining, Arsenal will finish outside the top three for the third time in four seasons.

But Wenger still insists Arsenal’s youthful squad is heading in the right direction.

“We have been remarkably consistent after November and I don’t think we’ve got the credit we deserved,” added the Frenchman. “But we’ll be back challenging next season.”

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

Now Darren Ferguson, manager of League One side Peterborough, has hinted it could be the summer of 2010 when his father finally walks away from the game. “His health is fine and he’s building a new team,” said Darren. “If they win (the Premier League) this year then they catch Liverpool in terms of titles won.

“I can see him doing this year and next – and then that might be it for him.” United are only a point clear of Liverpool at the top, but have a game in hand.

Source: soccernews.com

United, who have already won the Club World Cup and English League Cup this term, are currently four points clear at the top of the Premier League and still have chances to win both the FA Cup and the European Champions League.

However, the Scottish boss – who took charge of United in 1986 following a successful spell as Aberdeen manager – was adamant that at least one key result would go against his side.

“The thing about Cup football is you need to be the best but you also need a lot of luck and I think it’s asking too much for all the games to go your way,” Ferguson said in an interview with the New Statesman magazine.

“The one thing I will say is, this squad is the best I have ever had. Every game we play, I feel confident.

“At the moment, every attack fears our defence and every defence fears our midfield and attack. That gives you confidence but it (the quintuple) is too tough a call.”

Source: soccernews.com

“When you are a top four club, you have to understand that you need success right away,” Ferguson said in Shortlist magazine published on Thursday. “You can’t wait three or four years for players to ease in, like perhaps you can with clubs who are not expected to win silverware year in, year out.

“When you are manager of Man United, there is always pressure to win things. We are one of the biggest clubs in the world and everybody associated with the club expects success, no matter how successful you have been in the past.”

Having already won the Club World Cup in December, the Red Devils are targeting a further four trophies by defending their Premier League and Champions League titles, beating Tottenham in the March 1 League Cup final and progressing in the FA Cup.

“In the last decade, we have really seen football move into a squad game,” said Ferguson, who has been at Old Trafford since 1986. “You need 20 good players to fight on all fronts.”

Ferguson has preferred to give emerging English players first-team experience by sending them on loan to rival clubs. Striker Fraizer Campbell, 21, is at Tottenham until the end of the season while goalkeeper Ben Foster has been struggling for action since returning from a two-year stint at Watford with Edwin van der Sar unbeaten in 14 consecutive league matches.

United beat Fulham 3-0 on Wednesday to go five-points clear atop the Premier League, but started with just three Englishmen – Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes. Striker Wayne Rooney came off the bench in the second half to score the final goal for the defending champions.

Ferguson has been critical of Fifa’s plans to implement restrictions on foreign players. The “6+5″ proposal from world football’s governing body would force clubs to start matches with at least six players eligible for selection for the national team of the country in which they are based, thereby restricting teams to a maximum of five foreign players in the starting eleven.

England manager Fabio Capello has complained that he is at a disadvantage compared to other national team managers, as only 35 per cent of Premier League players are eligible for the national side.

Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and 21-year-old defender Michael Mancienne were Chelsea’s only English players in Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Watford in the FA Cup. Arsenal used just one homegrown player, 19-year-old defender Kieran Gibbs, in Monday’s 4-0 victory over Cardiff in the FA Cup.

But Aston Villa, who are third in the Premier League, started with just three non-English players in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with CSKA Moscow in the Uefa Cup.Source: supersport.co.za

Pic: thesun.co.uk

Ferguson, whose team are also in the Uefa Champions League last-16, certainly believes he has the squad to attempt a clean-sweep.

After making seven changes against Derby including relegating Nemanja Vidic to the bench and leaving out Dimitar Berbatov entirely, the Scot is determined to give himself every chance of keeping his team fresh for the run-in. “The squad has been fantastic. They have carried us through and got us through some difficult games,” said Ferguson whose team have been drawn against either Swansea or Fulham in the FA Cup last eight.

“With the game on Wednesday in mind I made some changes and the squad did very well again. That is encouraging and we are delighted to be in the next round of the FA Cup. It would have been nice to have a home draw, but we are one game away from the semifinal and that should give everyone a great incentive. I hope the squad can maintain the levels they have hit in the last few weeks, but I saw Swansea play very, very well against Fulham in the first game and that tie is far from finished.”

Derby manager Nigel Clough has been up close and personal with United more than any other manager recently. Since taking charge six weeks ago this was his third encounter with the European champions and after the way United breezed over their latest hurdle, Clough thinks people should begin to take their quintet quest far more seriously.

“It is possible that they can do all five. That was the most impressive performance they have put in against us. They are almost impossible to prepare for and when you look at the players they have to add to that squad and come back,” Clough said.

“It is a very difficult thing to do and would be unprecedented, but they looked very good indeed and if anyone can do it they can. If they had played Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool today they could have put four goals past them as well. That is how good they were.”

Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of United’s goals from a relatively rare outing in a central striking role, to add to others from Darron Gibson, Portuguese winger Nani and substitute Danny Welbeck, while Miles Addison got one back for Derby.

Despite Ronaldo’s impressive partnership with Ryan Giggs, Ferguson has no plans to use him in that position on a more regular basis. “He did well in a central role and we have great options with Ronaldo, but he is such a fantastic player out wide. He is streets ahead of everyone else in the game,” added Ferguson.

“The goals he can get from out there are very valuable to us and you cannot deprive yourself of that by moving him and we also have plenty of strikers. Berbatov, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney will be back next week. Ronaldo is a centre forward playing wide and a winger playing centre forward when he is in the game. I like him as a winger and that is where I want him to play.”

Source: supersport.co.za

Pic: soccerlens.com