Darren Fletcher – “We need wins not draws”
Manchester United’s midfielder Darren Fletcher says that his team needs to win matches, rather than draw, to remain in the title race. Although, United have been the only unbeaten side in the English Premier League this season, they have not managed to pick
up 3 points consistently. Fletcher has warned his teammates that too many draws may prove to be the stumbling block for the Red Devils this season, in their bid to reclaim the Premier League crown.
Talking about his side’s performances so far this season, the Scott said, “Yes, we’re unbeaten, but too many draws could still end up costing us later on in the season. We therefore need to get back to winning ways, the performances overall have been good
away from home. Only the game at Sunderland is one when we were slightly lucky to come away with the draw. In a lot of the other games, like at Fulham and Everton, we felt in control and should have won, but lapses in concentration cost us.”
Fletcher also revealed that the fitness program at the club has enabled the players to achieve increased energy levels.
He said, “We have great facilities here that stand you in good stead throughout the campaign. The preparation we do in the summer builds you up for long seasons and the recovery sessions we do the day after games help get your body ready for the next one.
It’s great to be playing all the time – I’m definitely not going to complain about playing too many matches.”
Manchester United will travel to Villa Park to face Aston Villa on Saturday, in the Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson and Gerard Houllier will face each other for the first time since 2004, when Houllier was the manager at Liverpool FC.
Manchester United have not been beaten at Villa Park in the league since 15 years, a record the Villa manger will be keen to overturn. Aston Villa’s last win in the league was against Blackpool FC in September, in a match where they managed to snatch victory
at the very last moment.
Currently, the biggest concern for the French manager is the long injury list, which sees as many as 10 players unfit to play. The injured players include Carlos Cuellar, Fabian Delph, Habib Beye , Stilyan Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell, Andreas
Weimann, Emile Heskey and John Carew. However, Villa’s attack will be bolstered by the return of the 24-year-old English striker Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Although Manchester United have been unbeaten in the last 24 league matches, 5 out of their 6 matches on the road have resulted in draws. United are 2nd in the Premier League table, and are 4 points adrift of league leaders Chelsea FC.
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