Wenger sold Arsenal pair Toure and Adebayor at the right time, says Fergie

28 August 2009 16:53
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Arsene Wenger's decision to sell Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City. Wenger came under fire from Arsenal fans when he sold the duo to mega-rich City this summer as it was expected to severely effect their chances of finishing in the top four. But Arsenal have scored 10 goals in their first two matches, including a fabulous 6-1 win against Everton at Goodison Park on the opening day of the Barclays Premier League season, and they have also reached the group stages of the Champions League after putting five past Celtic. And Ferguson, whose Manchester United tackle Arsenal in the firstblockbuster confrontation of the Premier League campaign at OldTrafford tomorrow, believes Wenger sold Toure and Adebayor - who wentfor a combined total of £41m - at the right time. 'I couldn't understand why they were written off,' he said. 'A youngteam like Arsenal, that is maturing, has to be respected and regarded.  'Six-one at Everton was an amazing result. In all my time atManchester United, I can't remember anyone doing that at Goodison Parkbefore. 'But one thing Arsene Wenger has done fantastically well is sell at the right time. 'He has always known the right time for a player to leave and he has done it again with Adebayor and Toure. Right decision: Adebayor joined Manchester City 'It is not easy to manage that kind of change but I don't think thelevel of ability has changed one bit and he seems to have a goodharmony in the squad.' Ferguson played down the historic rivalry between the two sides andsays he expects Saturday's night clash to be of a different type of agame. 'Over the years Manchester United games against Arsenal have been the featureof the Premier League,' said Ferguson. 'For a long time we were both competing for the number one spot and some of the games were very feisty. 'The character of the teams has changed a bit. We don't have aKeane, they don't have a Vieira. They were both volatile characters anddominant figures in their teams. 'Tomorrow won't be in any way as competitive. It will be a different type of game.'United suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Burnley last week and Ferguson has told his side they cannot afford to lose another. He added: 'We need to address that and do better. One opportunitycomes along tomorrow. We have lost one game and we cannot afford tolose another.'

Source: Daily_Mail