Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson dogged by defensive frailties

30 October 2009 18:25
Ferdinand, 31 next Saturday, is battling to overcome a calf injury to face Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford on Saturday, yet even if the England defender proves his fitness, questions remain over his participation against Sam Allardyce's team following a run of high-profile errors for club and country. [LNB]Having raised eyebrows by attending the London premiere of Dead Man Running, a film partly funded by Ferdinand, within hours of returning from Manchester United's Champions League trip to Moscow last week, the United vice-captain pulled out of the Manchester screening of the film on Thursday with representatives claiming "the reason is that it was 48 hours before Saturday's match [against Blackburn]." [LNB] Related ArticlesManchester United v Blackburn: previewCapello defends trip into 'unknown'Sir Alex Ferguson says journalists 'humiliate' peopleSir Alex Ferguson questions England fixturesUnited to give Obertan league debutSport on televisionFerdinand, whose off-field interests include an online magazine, record label and Italian restaurant, was given permission to attend the London premiere three days before last Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Anfield. [LNB]But with Dead Man Running producer Nicholas Fearon explaining Ferdinand's absence from the Manchester premiere by insisting that "his football comes first", it appears as though the player has accepted the need to focus solely on matters on the pitch. [LNB]Ferdinand claimed recently that he needs 10 games to get back into his stride, but Ferguson refused to discuss whether his recent loss of form was a "blip" or a more long-term concern. [LNB]Ferguson said: "I'm not getting into that because I read the stuff and I hear he's going to be dropped and all the rest. [LNB]"I don't know if any of you [media] have got to my mind. You can try to pick my teams, but you'll never pick my team. You can try as long as you like. [LNB]"I don't know where it's coming from, but I just have to put it down to the modern culture of humiliating people, which you do very well, and all the rest of it. I'm not getting into it." [LNB]When reminded of Ferdinand's admission that he needs 10 games, Ferguson said, "Well why would I drop him then?" With Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic struggling to overcome calf injuries to face Blackburn, Ferguson could be forced to pair Wes Brown and Jonny Evans at centre-half this evening. [LNB]Ferguson said: "Neither Rio nor Vidic has trained since the [Liverpool] game. [LNB]"Vidic has a little problem with his calf. We have sent him to a specialist and hopefully we can correct that, but he has been struggling a little bit with it. [LNB]"With Rio, it's just his calf injury again. We'll see how they are, but they will both want to play after the disappointment of last Sunday." [LNB]Defensive concerns have dogged United all season. The champions have conceded 11 goals in 10 Premier League games and managed only one clean sheet in the league since August. [LNB]But Ferguson believes that the recent return from injury of goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will lead to a more resolute back four. [LNB]He said: "Last year we had exactly the same thing. We had a lot of injuries to the back four time and time again, but don't forget we went 14 league games without losing a goal. [LNB]"I think the key is having Van der Sar back. He's a fantastic goalkeeper and that will make a difference. That will settle them. [LNB]"But at Liverpool, we were just out-battled. That's two years in a row that Liverpool have got right into us and we didn't respond well to it, but it's over. We'll move on." [LNB]

Source: Telegraph