ARBUCKS
07-11-2007, 12:33 PM
SIR Alex Ferguson, celebrating his 21st anniversary at the club, has challenged his Manchester United players to avoid becoming the Reds' nearly men.
On the eve of his side's Champions League encounter with Dynamo Kiev, Ferguson refused to rule out extending his stay to an incredible 25 years.
No matter how long the fiercely-competitive Scot remains, he wants his final seasons at United to be winning ones.
And, in accepting the Red Devils' Champions League record should be far better than it is, Ferguson has laid down the gauntlet to his young team to bring a third European Cup back to Old Trafford.
"If you are one of the best you naturally look to spell it out with cups and medals, otherwise you are in danger of ending your career as a nearly man - and I don't think a single Manchester United player wants that," said Ferguson, who won the Champions League in 1999.
"Talk comes cheap but I think we have built a platform that, with just a little bit of luck, will launch us on our way to capture this most elusive of trophies.
"We have had our disappointments on the Champions League trail but, while you can never take anything for granted at this level because the competition is needle sharp, I really believe we are capable of going all the way."
Ferguson is responsible for 50% of United's European triumphs but despite that never-to-be-forgotten night in Barcelona, an unhappy succession of quarter-final and semi-final defeats - culminating in last season's loss to AC Milan in the last four - have undermined his monumental achievements on the domestic front.
Still, with nine Premier League titles, five FA Cups, two League Cups and a Cup-Winners' Cup triumph on his United CV, Ferguson knows he could stand down immediately and still be hailed as one of the finest managers of all time.
Magical
Such a move is not on the 65-year-old's agenda though. And, with bookmakers now offering odds on him reaching a magical 25 years at the helm, the gambler in Ferguson does not dismiss the wisdom of having a punt.
"I am proud to have been at the right club," he said.
"I thought 20 years was the landmark last year and now there is an extra year to add to that. It does mean something to me and now I see that are taking odds on me getting to 25 years. It will be interesting to see if I last that long."
Although he is anxious to stress he is not in competition with illustrious predecessor Sir Matt Busby, whose first stint as manager lasted 24 years, Ferguson does believe his fellow Scot left a European legacy he must live up to.
Not only was Busby responsible for their first European trophy in 1968, he also defied the English football authorities 12 years earlier in entering United into the new competition, a season after Chelsea had declined the opportunity.
"I don't think of Sir Matt in terms of him lasting so long but there was an impact from his reign, which leaves us with a big incentive," said Ferguson.
"I think back to what he started after the war, when he had the vision to take Manchester United into Europe in 1956. That was before his time and beyond everyone's thinking.
"Chelsea won the league the previous year but didn't fancy Europe. The FA didn't fancy it and the Football League didn't fancy it either.
"But Sir Matt Busby did. That is the real link I have got with Sir Matt. The years I have spent here have been about achieving and entertaining and about meeting the demands of the modern game."
Barring a mathematical improbability, victory for United tomorrow would sweep them into the knock-out phase with two matches to spare.
Having dismantled Kiev in the Ukraine a fortnight ago, there is no reason to believe Ferguson's side will struggle at Old Trafford, especially given United now have an almost fully-fit squad available.
"At this moment in time I am very positive about meeting the demands of this competition this season," said Ferguson.
"This team can go far. Certain things have to fall into place, namely to have a good, strong squad by the time you get to March.
"I can't dictate that. It is something you have to accept. You either have injuries and important times or you don't."
On the eve of his side's Champions League encounter with Dynamo Kiev, Ferguson refused to rule out extending his stay to an incredible 25 years.
No matter how long the fiercely-competitive Scot remains, he wants his final seasons at United to be winning ones.
And, in accepting the Red Devils' Champions League record should be far better than it is, Ferguson has laid down the gauntlet to his young team to bring a third European Cup back to Old Trafford.
"If you are one of the best you naturally look to spell it out with cups and medals, otherwise you are in danger of ending your career as a nearly man - and I don't think a single Manchester United player wants that," said Ferguson, who won the Champions League in 1999.
"Talk comes cheap but I think we have built a platform that, with just a little bit of luck, will launch us on our way to capture this most elusive of trophies.
"We have had our disappointments on the Champions League trail but, while you can never take anything for granted at this level because the competition is needle sharp, I really believe we are capable of going all the way."
Ferguson is responsible for 50% of United's European triumphs but despite that never-to-be-forgotten night in Barcelona, an unhappy succession of quarter-final and semi-final defeats - culminating in last season's loss to AC Milan in the last four - have undermined his monumental achievements on the domestic front.
Still, with nine Premier League titles, five FA Cups, two League Cups and a Cup-Winners' Cup triumph on his United CV, Ferguson knows he could stand down immediately and still be hailed as one of the finest managers of all time.
Magical
Such a move is not on the 65-year-old's agenda though. And, with bookmakers now offering odds on him reaching a magical 25 years at the helm, the gambler in Ferguson does not dismiss the wisdom of having a punt.
"I am proud to have been at the right club," he said.
"I thought 20 years was the landmark last year and now there is an extra year to add to that. It does mean something to me and now I see that are taking odds on me getting to 25 years. It will be interesting to see if I last that long."
Although he is anxious to stress he is not in competition with illustrious predecessor Sir Matt Busby, whose first stint as manager lasted 24 years, Ferguson does believe his fellow Scot left a European legacy he must live up to.
Not only was Busby responsible for their first European trophy in 1968, he also defied the English football authorities 12 years earlier in entering United into the new competition, a season after Chelsea had declined the opportunity.
"I don't think of Sir Matt in terms of him lasting so long but there was an impact from his reign, which leaves us with a big incentive," said Ferguson.
"I think back to what he started after the war, when he had the vision to take Manchester United into Europe in 1956. That was before his time and beyond everyone's thinking.
"Chelsea won the league the previous year but didn't fancy Europe. The FA didn't fancy it and the Football League didn't fancy it either.
"But Sir Matt Busby did. That is the real link I have got with Sir Matt. The years I have spent here have been about achieving and entertaining and about meeting the demands of the modern game."
Barring a mathematical improbability, victory for United tomorrow would sweep them into the knock-out phase with two matches to spare.
Having dismantled Kiev in the Ukraine a fortnight ago, there is no reason to believe Ferguson's side will struggle at Old Trafford, especially given United now have an almost fully-fit squad available.
"At this moment in time I am very positive about meeting the demands of this competition this season," said Ferguson.
"This team can go far. Certain things have to fall into place, namely to have a good, strong squad by the time you get to March.
"I can't dictate that. It is something you have to accept. You either have injuries and important times or you don't."