Sir Alex Ferguson insists UEFA Champions League is better than FIFA World Cup
Sir Alex Ferguson has come out and reiterated that UEFA Champions League is still the numero uno foot balling tournament in the world, even better than the prestigious FIFA World Cup competition. UEFA Champions League is seen by many as the Holy Grail of
club football and since 1999 when the new format of the tournament was introduced, no team has ever won it twice in a row or in other words, successfully defended their European title.
Ferguson’s team, Manchester United began their UEFA Champions League campaign with a draw against Rangers at Old Trafford. But, the men in red have covered up for that unexpected result by conquering Valencia at the Mestalla stadium and then defeating Bursaspor,
the Turkish champions at Old Trafford. UEFA Champions League has come under criticism itself after Michel Platini’s idea to incorporate more European representation in group stage of the competition was implemented.
The introduction of new idea is supposed to give lesser club football teams in European football a lift. The Red Devils next face Bursaspor in Turkey, something that Ferguson is quite wary of already. United’s long standing manager Ferguson commented on
the UEFA Champions League versus World Cup debate as he said that if people have seen the last six world cups, they can compare their experience of watching the tournament to visiting the dentist.
The Scottish national went onto say that the world cup’s subdued atmosphere is a “natural” thing, something that one cannot expect when Manchester United face the likes of Arsenal in the English Premier League. Ferguson went onto compare the crowd environment
to one of the big European teams playing a smaller league side. Sir Alex said that if Inter Milan played one of the lesser sides, they would pull in the same crowd as their match against one of the bigger teams in Europe.
Talking about the UEFA Champions League, Ferguson added that it has been a successful competition right from the start, even better than the World cup itself. He elaborated by saying that a team has to progress further than the group stages to really see
the excitement of the competition.
Ferguson’s team travels to Turkey with a squad which has some noticeable absentees. Rio Ferdinand is set to take rest after playing at the weekend against Tottenham Hotspurs in the Premier League.
Sir Alex commented on Rio’s situation by saying that the defender has come a long way in the past few weeks as far as his fitness is concerned but his commission from the squad for the Bursaspor trip is just precautionary. The ex-Aberdeen manager also stated
that Chris Smalling’s form had given him an easier way out of the Ferdinand fitness situation.
United’s manager praised the ex-Fulham man by saying that he has adapted to the training and his physique and intelligence should be complimented by experience. However, one thing that should not be forgotten before United’s match against Bursaspor is that
Turkish teams are renowned for creating an intimidating atmosphere.
Nonetheless, Red Devils have a good record against Turkish teams. Ferguson will be hoping for a repeat of their 1-0 performance against Bursaspor at Old Trafford. It was Nani who gave United the lead against Bursaspor in Manchester but it remains to be seen
whether the Portuguese will repeat the heroics in Turkey.
Speaking on Ryan Giggs’s hamstring injury and his possible recovery, Ferguson told the press that Ryan resumed training on the past Thursday. The veteran manager added that the Welsh wizard will be fit within the next two weeks. Ferguson went onto say that
his left midfielder might be fit to start against Manchester City next week.
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