Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said he was not planning to make any signings in next month’s transfer window.
“I do not think there will be any January transfers,” local media quoted Ferguson as saying. “I am happy with what I have got.”
Ferguson believes United’s success in winning the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan can propel the team towards retaining the English Premier League title.
PHOTO: AP
The European champions added the global crown to their honors list by defeating Ecuador’s Liga de Quito in Yokohama on Sunday.
Ferguson expects the confidence generated by that achievement to boost the club’s prospects of winning more trophies in the second half of the season.
“I hope that happens,” he told reporters at United’s training ground on Wednesday. “There is no question that winning in Japan has given the club and the players a great boost. It was a great achievement.”
“The most important thing is that the team played well, which was surprising really because a lot of the players found that their sleep patterns weren’t quite so good over there,” the Scot said.
“That proved a bit difficult, but nonetheless, the lads showed good enthusiasm during the games and good concentration, which was the key thing,” he said. “We have come through it well and put in some good performances.”
“After the game against Quito, the players had a great time together. We were up early the next morning to get away, so not many slept too well, but they had their time together and that was good for them,” Ferguson said.
During their nine-day stay in Japan, United watched as Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all failed to collect maximum points from their two Premier League games during that period.
And Ferguson admits that the failings of United’s rivals gives his side, who have two games in hand on their fellow title contenders, a real chance of claiming top spot in the New Year.
“A similar thing happened when we went to Brazil for the world championship in 2000. While we were away, our title rivals Arsenal and Leeds both failed to get a win,” he said. “I wasn’t surprised that Arsenal and Liverpool drew with each other, but I was a bit worried about Chelsea going to Everton, simply because of Everton’s record of not having won for 20 games against Chelsea.”
“I would obviously rather be top on Christmas Day, but I always wanted to be close to the leaders going into the New Year and we have managed that,” Ferguson said.
“Teams chasing the title always drop points in March and April, even when you don’t expect them to do so, and that will happen again this year,” he said. “But we have nine games coming up in the next month and, fortunately, we have the squad to cope with that.”
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
Taiwanese sprinter Chen Yi-cen on Friday won the silver medal in the women’s 400m final at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, with a time of 53.16 seconds. Chen, 15, was the youngest among the eight finalists, and her performance also met the qualifying standard of 53.50 seconds for the Nagoya Asian Games in Japan in September and October. Chen first made her mark at the National Games in Tainan in 2023, at the age of 13, winning the women’s 400m final in 55.55 seconds to become the youngest gold medalist in the history of the event. Meanwhile,
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
RSS