Manchester United Football Club

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68174

Foster admits Fergie debt

28 Sep 2009 - 08:57:27

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Goalkeeper Ben Foster has admitted he owes Sir Alex Ferguson a huge debt of gratitude for sticking by him despite his patchy form for Manchester United.

Foster retained his place for Saturday's 2-0 win at Stoke City despite suggestions that he would be replaced by Tomasz Kuszczak following an erratic display in the previous weekend's 4-3 derby success over Manchester City.

The 26-year-old England keeper has struggled for consistency during Edwin van der Sar's injury absence at the start of the season and Foster has admitted that Ferguson has had every right to drop him.

"I have to say a big thanks to the boss for sticking by me," he said.

"Last Sunday was great for the team but personally, it was an absolute disaster.

"I was gutted afterwards. I was the only one in the changing room with an upside down smile on his face.

"When we got into training I had to face up to it. I had to look at the replays, analyse them and learn from them.

"The goalkeeping coach has been on at me all week and was really hard on me. But I needed that and I like to think I have learnt from it.

"You are going to have those days as a goalkeeper sometimes and you have to keep them to a minimum."

Meanwhile, Foster is hoping to learn from the approach veteran Dutchman van der Sar brings to his goalkeeping.

He added: "The more you play the more concentration and consistency you develop.

"Edwin is a typical example of Mr Cool. He is a fantastic professional and he is someone I want to emulate at Manchester United.

"He is exactly what I am aiming to be for years to come."