Manchester United's Carlos Tevez must recognise the genius of Sir Alex Ferguson

18 May 2009 09:40
Nothing really. Apart from the two winners' medals in the globe's most competitive and compelling league. Apart from one European Cup with another up for grabs. Apart from being crowned a champion of the world in Tokyo as fans chanted "bring on the Martians''. What else have United done for Tevez? Nothing really. Apart from the chance to work under the best manager around, Sir Alex Ferguson. Apart from the privilege of playing alongside Wayne Rooney and listening to Paul Scholes expound on why Frankie Bunn's a legend. Tevez won't get that at Real Madrid. In the wake of Saturday's title celebration triggered by the point gained against Arsenal, a brief post-match call to a Manchester hostelry favoured by United followers elicited a simple verdict: "Keep Tevez, sell Ronaldo.'' Tevez is beloved by the Stretford End for his high-energy running, yet Ronaldo's first touch and goal record are superior. He is not European Footballer of the Year for nothing. If Tevez genuinely wants to stay at Old Trafford for footballing reasons, he should be ordering his owner, Kia Joorabchian, to negotiate a compromise with United and push the £25 million deal through. Perceived internally as an irritating sideshow to the main title-winning drama at the Theatre of Dreams, Tevez's long, angry farewell actually places in sharp focus why he should be doing everything to stay. With the World Cup looming at the end of next season, the Argentina striker is clearly concerned about the need to start regularly, but he should appreciate two things: Ferguson's squad system will keep him fresh and the Scot's managerial nous will develop him as a player. Amid all the plaudits for United on the occasion of their 18th title, all the praise for their strength of squad, their academy and the deep desire inherent in servants such as Ryan Giggs, the manager's alchemist touch deserves a special salute. Ferguson makes good players better. Two young Brazilians, Anderson and Rafael, blossom under Ferguson's tuition. He does not rush them, just brings them through slowly but surely. Encouraged by Ferguson, Nemanja Vidic and Michael Carrick have matured into players of genuine substance. Rooney has absorbed all Ferguson's advice about lengthening his fuse, understood the tactical demands of his left-sided role and could be heading for European Footballer of the Year honours. Sounds familiar? Ferguson moulded Ronaldo into the best player on the planet last season. Credit must also be paid to his coaching staff. Ferguson's willingness to delegate keeps him fresh, encouraging powerful people within Old Trafford, such as chief executive David Gill, to believe the manager will continue in the job for some time. Ferguson juggles his professional and personal pursuits well, loving his work and enjoying his private interests in horse racing and spending time with his family. "He works just as hard [as before],'' explains Giggs. "He was much more hands-on, now he has other interests. He has evolved. He is able to manage his life because he couldn't do what he did 20 years ago. The club is massive. Where he used to manage 15 players, now he has 25-30 players and you need all your staff to do that.'' Even in Tevez's short period at United he must see that Ferguson is a master at building teams, knowing when to guide players out of the door and when to introduce others. No manager plays the regeneration game better than Ferguson. No manager challenges his players more to keep proving themselves. As the season began, questions were posed over how much Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Giggs would contribute. Three have delivered, with Neville simply held back by injury, and the full-back's noise and competitive instincts are worth keeping around. They keep performing – Van der Sar breaking the British clean-sheet record and Giggs being voted PFA Player of the Year – because they know that replacements lurk nearby: Ben Foster for Van der Sar, Rafael for Neville, and Anderson in the centre for Scholes or Giggs. Against Barcelona in Rome next week, Ferguson can match Bob Paisley's three European Cups and legitimately be considered English football's greatest manager of all time. Tactically, Ferguson has arguably enjoyed his best season, making a series of decisions that have brought huge reward: using Giggs in the centre against Chelsea, deploying Ronaldo through the middle, letting Rafael off the leash, gambling on Federico Macheda against Aston Villa when United were losing 2-1. It is difficult to remember the last time he made a major mistake in the transfer market. The jury is out on Nani, but Dimitar Berbatov, who has his terrace critics, may yet prove himself, à la Teddy Sheringham. Berbatov plays the game at his own pace but the way he brought the ball down, turned, passed and created Tevez's goal against Manchester City signalled the Bulgarian's talent. Ferguson's demeanour in the dugout sets the tone for his players; he will move to the edge of the technical area to encourage greater urgency but he always exudes a belief in his players, a refusal to panic. Ferguson has seen it all before, overcome adversities before. United's start to the season was poor, with draws slowing their progress, but Ferguson remained patient, knowing how to pace his thoroughbreds to come up with a winning run after Christmas. Even in individual games, with the clock running against United, the players never lose their belief because they trust in their manager, particularly with his substitutions. Late goals have been dotted through the season, from Vidic at Sunderland in December, to Tevez at Stoke on Boxing Day, and Macheda against Villa in April. After the second string play Hull next weekend, United head to Rome, where Arsene Wenger believes Ferguson's defence could be key. "Yes, certainly, yes," said the Arsenal manager. "What Chelsea did against Barcelona shows you. They restricted them to very limited chances and were very strong in the challenges." Pleased with Arsenal's more assertive display at Old Trafford, Wenger then compared his side to Ferguson's. "Offensively between the two teams, there was not a big difference at all,'' Wenger said. "They made the difference with their defence this year. They conceded only 24 goals." Encouragingly for the Premier League, Wenger believes Arsenal will challenge United more fully next term. "Yes. Of course." Ferguson and United will readily accept the challenge.

Source: Telegraph