Source: Team_Talk
Fergie and Gill set to discuss Rooney
Sir Alex Ferguson was due to meet Manchester United chief executive David Gill on Thursday to discuss Wayne Rooney's outspoken attack.[LNB] Rooney confirmed his intention to quit Old Trafford in a statement on Wednesday night, claiming a lack of investment in the first-team squad was the prime reason for his decision.[LNB]Ferguson has dismissed a suggestion that he might suspend the 24-year-old, who missed the 1-0 Champions League home win over Bursaspor with an ankle injury.[LNB]But Rooney's comments have created a stir the United boss is anxious to sort out.[LNB]"We don't want it to become a saga. We have the team to consider," he said.[LNB]"We will put it to bed tomorrow.[LNB]"I have not read all the statement but we will consider it tomorrow.[LNB]"David Gill and I have a meeting at 10am tomorrow morning. David has spoken to the owners tonight, which is important.[LNB]"It is really important for us to put it to bed.[LNB]"I am manager of a club that is trying to win a game on Sunday against Stoke City.[LNB]"That is the most important thing. The rest is a bagatelle."[LNB]Ferguson did show signs of being rattled by four days of intense debate around Rooney's career, which first erupted on Sunday morning.[LNB]"I am not going on with this all night. Stop it now," he said.[LNB]"It is a European game. You have had plenty yesterday. There has been plenty tonight. I am concentrating on the game. Failing that, forget it."[LNB]Asked about the possibility of suspending Rooney, he replied: "What kind of imagination have you got?"[LNB]Nevertheless, there must be the prospect of some kind of sanction following the devastating assessment of United's future provided by their number one player, who may never pull on a red shirt again such is the furore his comments have caused.[LNB]And Ferguson is clearly not convinced Rooney is making the right decision.[LNB]"Sometimes you look in a field and see a cow," he said.[LNB]"You think it is a better cow than the one you see in your field. It never really works out that way.[LNB]"Some players like to think the world is better somewhere else. It never really works."[LNB]So many questions have been asked of United's fortunes that Ferguson himself could be forgiven for having doubts.[LNB]After watching his side triumph thanks to Nani's sixth-minute effort, Ferguson insists he has none.[LNB]"To maintain the success at any club is not a certainty," he said.[LNB]"I always believe a four-year cycle is the most you can achieve. Very few teams can go beyond that.[LNB]"Last season we almost did it. We were one point short of winning the league.[LNB]"But we realised some time ago that Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville were not going to last forever. Therefore our policy is to develop footballers in the place."[LNB]He then recounted a story from United's last period of relative decline after 2004, which involved Rooney himself, and included the departures of star names Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy.[LNB]"A player said to me Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were not good enough and he wasn't prepared to wait," said Ferguson.[LNB]"That is the problem with potential. People don't identify potential. We are very good at it. I have identified it all my life. I know potential. I know where it can be developed and how to develop it. I have faith in it.[LNB]"That is what this club is about. When you see Manchester United at the moment, with 14 players under 22, you don't see the Manchester United for years ahead.[LNB]"We will invest in signature players when the time is ready. We were not ready this summer."[LNB]Apart from one exception, which is thought to be David Villa, who left Valencia for Barcelona.[LNB]"There was one player we would have liked to get, but he chose another club," said Ferguson.[LNB]"Some players don't want to leave their country.[LNB]"But Manchester United is a big attraction for any player.[LNB]"In terms of the future of Manchester United, there are a lot of things in my favour.[LNB]"If I told you how many agents phoned me in a week, saying a player would love to play for us - and I am not just talking about run-of-the-mill players - it would amaze you.[LNB]"We still have that fantastic romance, and respect from everyone.[LNB]"But we will be OK. I have every confidence. The structure of the club is good. We have the right staff, the right manager, a brilliant chief executive. There is not a thing wrong with Manchester United.[LNB]"We will carry on."[LNB]It all rather overshadowed Bursaspor coach Ertugrul Saglam.[LNB]"We wanted to perform to the best of our ability but I don't think we played very well," he said.[LNB]"I don't believe United played as well as they would have liked either, so it has not been a very eventful evening."[LNB]Maybe not on the pitch. Off it is a quite different story.
