Rio Ferdinand's Return Leads Ferguson to Declare United's Wobble Over
Sir Alex Ferguson, who will recall Rio Ferdinand from injury for tomorrow's Champions League tie at Porto, is confident Manchester United have emerged from their recent slump
Sir Alex Ferguson said last night he was confident that Manchester United have emerged from the slump that threatened to derail their challenge for a clean sweep of this season's trophies. Ferguson will be able to restore the center-back Rio Ferdinand alongside Nemanja Vidic in tomorrow's Champions League tie against Porto, and the United manager spoke of his team's defensive problems having reached a "watershed".
United have conceded 11 goals in their last five games, and the 2-2 draw against Porto in the first leg of their quarter-final at Old Trafford last week has put the Portuguese champions in a position of strength going into the return leg. Porto have not lost at home in 21 games against British opposition stretching back to 1967 but Ferguson, taking charge of his 150th Champions League game, is convinced his team will not play as badly again.
"They were better than us in the first leg but maybe this time will be different," Ferguson said, citing his team's 2-1 defeat of Sunderland at the weekend. "I think there was a watershed on Saturday. The back four played very well and they [Sunderland] didn't really have any chances.
"The inconsistency with the back four has been a problem for us. But Ferdinand is fit now and he will start. Then we will be back to a normal back four.
"Ferdinand's quality and experience always makes a difference and it gets us back to the partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic, which has been the cornerstone of our great defensive performances this season. That's the key for us.
"We are also a fresher team this time. We've had four days' rest as opposed to the two we had before the first leg, which is much better. We've still got a big job to do but I trust these players because they deserve that trust. Their big performances over the past few years – at Rome, Milan and Barcelona – justify that trust. We've got to remember the places we've been and the performance levels at those places. It's not as if we are coming here without a big chance."
United are unbeaten in 22 Champions League ties but have been eliminated in their last four knockout ties when they have had to play the away leg second. Their plans have also been disrupted by Darren Fletcher suffering a hamstring injury. United received another fillip when it emerged that Jesualdo Ferreira, the Porto coach, will be banned from the dugout after Uefa's disciplinary panel studied video footage of him making an abusive gesture towards the referee during the first leg of his side's last-16 tie against Atlético Madrid.
The shortlist for this season's PFA Player of the Year award features five Manchester United players – Edwin van der Sar, Vidic, Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo – and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard. Ferguson, however, played down its significance, saying: "Don't forget in 1999 we won the treble and never won an individual award so I don't think you should place too much emphasis on it."
Asked who he would plump for, Ferguson swerved the question with the surprising suggestion that Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea should have been on the list. "You've got Vidic, Giggs, but then Fletcher, O'Shea and Van der Sar have all done well," he said, then added: "Vidic has had an excellent season, Giggs just amazes you every time."
Early voting always gives the PFA award a problem – Vidic, for example, had still to be traumatized by Fernando Torres when the slips were submitted in early March – yet football writers who have until 11 May to post their vote are also still waiting for an outstanding candidate to emerge.
United have conceded 11 goals in their last five games, and the 2-2 draw against Porto in the first leg of their quarter-final at Old Trafford last week has put the Portuguese champions in a position of strength going into the return leg. Porto have not lost at home in 21 games against British opposition stretching back to 1967 but Ferguson, taking charge of his 150th Champions League game, is convinced his team will not play as badly again.
"They were better than us in the first leg but maybe this time will be different," Ferguson said, citing his team's 2-1 defeat of Sunderland at the weekend. "I think there was a watershed on Saturday. The back four played very well and they [Sunderland] didn't really have any chances.
"The inconsistency with the back four has been a problem for us. But Ferdinand is fit now and he will start. Then we will be back to a normal back four.
"Ferdinand's quality and experience always makes a difference and it gets us back to the partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic, which has been the cornerstone of our great defensive performances this season. That's the key for us.
"We are also a fresher team this time. We've had four days' rest as opposed to the two we had before the first leg, which is much better. We've still got a big job to do but I trust these players because they deserve that trust. Their big performances over the past few years – at Rome, Milan and Barcelona – justify that trust. We've got to remember the places we've been and the performance levels at those places. It's not as if we are coming here without a big chance."
United are unbeaten in 22 Champions League ties but have been eliminated in their last four knockout ties when they have had to play the away leg second. Their plans have also been disrupted by Darren Fletcher suffering a hamstring injury. United received another fillip when it emerged that Jesualdo Ferreira, the Porto coach, will be banned from the dugout after Uefa's disciplinary panel studied video footage of him making an abusive gesture towards the referee during the first leg of his side's last-16 tie against Atlético Madrid.
The shortlist for this season's PFA Player of the Year award features five Manchester United players – Edwin van der Sar, Vidic, Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo – and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard. Ferguson, however, played down its significance, saying: "Don't forget in 1999 we won the treble and never won an individual award so I don't think you should place too much emphasis on it."
Asked who he would plump for, Ferguson swerved the question with the surprising suggestion that Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea should have been on the list. "You've got Vidic, Giggs, but then Fletcher, O'Shea and Van der Sar have all done well," he said, then added: "Vidic has had an excellent season, Giggs just amazes you every time."
Early voting always gives the PFA award a problem – Vidic, for example, had still to be traumatized by Fernando Torres when the slips were submitted in early March – yet football writers who have until 11 May to post their vote are also still waiting for an outstanding candidate to emerge.
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