<a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-289228,00.html" target="_blank">Relentless Arsenal finally tip Ferguson over edge</a>
"FOR years he has been unflappable in the heat of the title race, but, his annus horribilis approaching a suitably nightmarish conclusion, that of handing over his most prized possession to his arch-enemy, Sir Alex Ferguson finally and spectacularly cracked yesterday. Frustrated by the futility of his attempts to unsettle Arsène Wenger and harassed by criticism of his methods, the Manchester United manager, supposed master of the mind games, resorted instead to the language of the barrack-room.
United had called a press conference to preview tomorrow’s eagerly-awaited FA Barclaycard Premiership title “decider” against Arsenal, who need only a draw to secure the championship, an occasion that, Ferguson began, would be “terrific”. So far so good, but, asked to elaborate on his theme about Arsenal’s perceived arrogance, he launched into a remarkable tirade that ended, amid a welter of bile and vitriol, with the press conference aborted and the seven journalists present told in no uncertain terms to leave the premises.
To Ferguson, the prospect of surrendering the Premiership title to Arsenal is dreadful enough, but the further indignity of staging his fiercest adversary’s coronation would be sheer anathema. The United manager has sent a series of verbal swipes in the direction of Highbury in recent weeks, but Wenger, his bête noire, has consistently shown an ability either to rise above the pettiness or, more frustratingly still, come back with a sneeringly dismissive retort.
When Ferguson, more than happy to play ball with the media, mischievously put pressure on the FA to “throw the book” at two Arsenal players, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry, Wenger just laughed.
When, despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Ferguson ventured last week that his was still the best team in England, Wenger joked that “everyone thinks he has the best-looking wife at home”, a remark that so outraged the United manager he had to be assured it was not a specific reference to his own better half. Duelling with Kevin Keegan was never this hard.
Ferguson grudgingly conceded yesterday, before the roof fell in, that Arsenal’s form of late has been worthy of champions, tempering his praise with the rider that United had “scored the most goals and played the most attractive football”, before the tension of his most arduous season in 12 years — one that would be considered a success at most clubs, but certainly not at United — finally got the better of him. Little of what followed is repeatable, but, after weeding out the remarkable succession of expletives — nine f**** and one s*** in the space of two minutes — two sentences remained just about printable.
“I’m not talking about Arsenal’s arrogance,” he said. “You can write about that. That’s your job. If you cover football, then talk about their arrogance. Not me.”
The other concerned his much-maligned record signing, Juan Sebastián Verón. “He’s a f****** great player,” he said. “Youse are all f****** idiots.”
If one thing has crept under Ferguson’s skin more than Wenger’s quiet triumphalism during a season of relative discontent at Old Trafford, it is the conundrum surrounding Veron.
At one stage last month, he came up with the theory that the English media were conducting a witch-hunt in order to upset one of Argentina’s most important players before the countries meet in the World Cup next month. “Actually,” one journalist told him yesterday, “it’s just that he hasn’t played well.”
Ferguson is determined to find a use for his magnificent white elephant, whom he proudly paraded amid fanfare last July after paying Lazio a British record transfer fee of £28.1 million, but the most likely one is that of a bargaining tool when he strengthens his defence at the end of the season.
Should Lazio or Juventus, two of Verón’s most likely suitors, offer Alessandro Nesta or Lilian Thuram in partexchange, all parties should be able to cut their losses with the minimum loss of dignity.
Verón will have to wait before discovering what role he plays against Arsenal. He has carried an Achilles tendon injury for several weeks, a mitigating factor for some of his recent poor performances, but Ferguson, whose stubbornness has historically been a virtue, may resist the temptation to leave him out. Paul Scholes, similarly disappointing when United were knocked out of the European Cup by Bayer Leverkusen last week, may be more likely to make way in midfield.
Either way, sentiment is unlikely to play a part in Ferguson’s decision-making as he seeks to spare not only himself, but also the players and supporters, the ignominy of playing bridesmaids to Arsenal. Victory over Arsenal may not be enough to alter the destiny of the championship, but it would at least underline his own conviction, which few have shown a willingness to share, that United, rather than Wenger’s FA Cup winners, have been the outstanding team in the country this season.
“We just have to do our job,” he said, before the press conference took an unexpected turn. “If we win, it takes it (the championship to the last game of the season and it’s very exciting for the league. The most important thing is that we win on Wednesday and take it to the last game. That would be great drama and just keep the thing going.”
The drama, though, is nearly over. The Theatre of Dreams, not least Ferguson, is bracing itself for its worst nightmare."
This is f****** brilliant. I f****** laughed my ass off while reading that. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
“Youse are all f****** idiots.”
What a great comment. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
I think the old geezer has finally snapped.
"FOR years he has been unflappable in the heat of the title race, but, his annus horribilis approaching a suitably nightmarish conclusion, that of handing over his most prized possession to his arch-enemy, Sir Alex Ferguson finally and spectacularly cracked yesterday. Frustrated by the futility of his attempts to unsettle Arsène Wenger and harassed by criticism of his methods, the Manchester United manager, supposed master of the mind games, resorted instead to the language of the barrack-room.
United had called a press conference to preview tomorrow’s eagerly-awaited FA Barclaycard Premiership title “decider” against Arsenal, who need only a draw to secure the championship, an occasion that, Ferguson began, would be “terrific”. So far so good, but, asked to elaborate on his theme about Arsenal’s perceived arrogance, he launched into a remarkable tirade that ended, amid a welter of bile and vitriol, with the press conference aborted and the seven journalists present told in no uncertain terms to leave the premises.
To Ferguson, the prospect of surrendering the Premiership title to Arsenal is dreadful enough, but the further indignity of staging his fiercest adversary’s coronation would be sheer anathema. The United manager has sent a series of verbal swipes in the direction of Highbury in recent weeks, but Wenger, his bête noire, has consistently shown an ability either to rise above the pettiness or, more frustratingly still, come back with a sneeringly dismissive retort.
When Ferguson, more than happy to play ball with the media, mischievously put pressure on the FA to “throw the book” at two Arsenal players, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry, Wenger just laughed.
When, despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Ferguson ventured last week that his was still the best team in England, Wenger joked that “everyone thinks he has the best-looking wife at home”, a remark that so outraged the United manager he had to be assured it was not a specific reference to his own better half. Duelling with Kevin Keegan was never this hard.
Ferguson grudgingly conceded yesterday, before the roof fell in, that Arsenal’s form of late has been worthy of champions, tempering his praise with the rider that United had “scored the most goals and played the most attractive football”, before the tension of his most arduous season in 12 years — one that would be considered a success at most clubs, but certainly not at United — finally got the better of him. Little of what followed is repeatable, but, after weeding out the remarkable succession of expletives — nine f**** and one s*** in the space of two minutes — two sentences remained just about printable.
“I’m not talking about Arsenal’s arrogance,” he said. “You can write about that. That’s your job. If you cover football, then talk about their arrogance. Not me.”
The other concerned his much-maligned record signing, Juan Sebastián Verón. “He’s a f****** great player,” he said. “Youse are all f****** idiots.”
If one thing has crept under Ferguson’s skin more than Wenger’s quiet triumphalism during a season of relative discontent at Old Trafford, it is the conundrum surrounding Veron.
At one stage last month, he came up with the theory that the English media were conducting a witch-hunt in order to upset one of Argentina’s most important players before the countries meet in the World Cup next month. “Actually,” one journalist told him yesterday, “it’s just that he hasn’t played well.”
Ferguson is determined to find a use for his magnificent white elephant, whom he proudly paraded amid fanfare last July after paying Lazio a British record transfer fee of £28.1 million, but the most likely one is that of a bargaining tool when he strengthens his defence at the end of the season.
Should Lazio or Juventus, two of Verón’s most likely suitors, offer Alessandro Nesta or Lilian Thuram in partexchange, all parties should be able to cut their losses with the minimum loss of dignity.
Verón will have to wait before discovering what role he plays against Arsenal. He has carried an Achilles tendon injury for several weeks, a mitigating factor for some of his recent poor performances, but Ferguson, whose stubbornness has historically been a virtue, may resist the temptation to leave him out. Paul Scholes, similarly disappointing when United were knocked out of the European Cup by Bayer Leverkusen last week, may be more likely to make way in midfield.
Either way, sentiment is unlikely to play a part in Ferguson’s decision-making as he seeks to spare not only himself, but also the players and supporters, the ignominy of playing bridesmaids to Arsenal. Victory over Arsenal may not be enough to alter the destiny of the championship, but it would at least underline his own conviction, which few have shown a willingness to share, that United, rather than Wenger’s FA Cup winners, have been the outstanding team in the country this season.
“We just have to do our job,” he said, before the press conference took an unexpected turn. “If we win, it takes it (the championship to the last game of the season and it’s very exciting for the league. The most important thing is that we win on Wednesday and take it to the last game. That would be great drama and just keep the thing going.”
The drama, though, is nearly over. The Theatre of Dreams, not least Ferguson, is bracing itself for its worst nightmare."
This is f****** brilliant. I f****** laughed my ass off while reading that. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
“Youse are all f****** idiots.”
What a great comment. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
I think the old geezer has finally snapped.
