Even if he was fit, I doubt he'll play on Sunday
Press Conferences 2012/13
- Thread starter Hans Moleman
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Isn't there one today? I couldn't find anything on manutd.com.
Don't think so.
He only usually does midweek ones ahead of CL games no?
He only usually does midweek ones ahead of CL games no?
No press conference for the Wednesday's match.
News:
Glad we're not rushing him back, but SAF seems to talk about Smalling as if he's almost ready at every press conference!
I would have thought he would have been ready by now. Bit concerned Rafael may tire should he start given he's played 210 minutes since Sunday.
We might just see Valencia at RB tomorrow.
I am really not understanding the concerns about Rafael being tired from some of the posters. He is 22 not 39.
They have a point. He put one helluva shift in on Wednesday night. I'd like to see him start but if Fergie sees fatigue from him in training he'll rest him.
I'd prefer to see Smalling deputising for Rio rather than Rafael, his better position.
I'd cry if Valencia doesn't start right wing. We'll need his wing play tomorrow much more than his versatility at right back. I'd even consider Fletcher at right back much before Valencia in there.
i think rafael should be fine, he is only 22.
maybe most of us are a bit worried about him because he used to get injured often in the past. even sometimes i thought he should get some rest, but at his age now he should be playing every game for us.
maybe most of us are a bit worried about him because he used to get injured often in the past. even sometimes i thought he should get some rest, but at his age now he should be playing every game for us.
Rafael will be fine. When Smalling does come in, we can give him a couple of games to ensure that Rafa doesn't burn out over the course of the season. But he's obviously one of those youngsters who could just run and run for two games a week, every week, and be absolutely fine. His injuries are similarly not the sort that can be avoided by getting a rest. He's not a hulking Rio sort who's going to damage his knees or back if he's throwing himself about every game of the season. They're always contact injuries from his tackling.
Nice to see the comments about Anderson.
He played 120 minutes late on Wednesday and the game against Arsenal is an early kickoff tomorrow. Yes, he is 22 but it would be tough for a lot of players to manage - especially one who has played in nearly every game so far this season. That said, I think he will most likely start tomorrow.
He played 120 minutes late on Wednesday and the game against Arsenal is an early kickoff tomorrow. Yes, he is 22 but it would be tough for a lot of players to manage - especially one who has played in nearly every game so far this season. That said, I think he will most likely start tomorrow.
Not to mention that Rafael has been playing non-stop, no summer break. Young or not, it takes a toll. Chicha is what 23/24 - and SAF is banging on about how the summer break has done him good.
Really pleased to hear SAF heaping praise on Ando, maybe another start for him against Braga.
Really pleased to hear SAF heaping praise on Ando, maybe another start for him against Braga.
Rafael will play. He'll probably be rested in the week though.
Any news on Jones' recovery?
Any news on Jones' recovery?
Agreed, he might not see a burnout effect until near the end of the season but that would be crunch time and a bad time at that to fatigue. He may well start but we do have to careful, nothing wrong with that.
Pre-CL press conference:
Anyone else spotting the sly dig?! Fergie hopes we can join Dortmund and Madrid - both of which happen to be in City's group. I liked it, anyway.
Anyone else spotting the sly dig?! Fergie hopes we can join Dortmund and Madrid - both of which happen to be in City's group. I liked it, anyway.
or, alternatively, it has something to do with quality of these teams.
Not sure it's a dig. City are basically out, and the teams he mentions are the best three teams in Europe.
Dortmund is definitely not the third best team in Europe. They aren't even the best team in their country.
Ask people in Spain and they will say Dortmund are one of the top 3 teams.
Although the Madrid media can only justify Real Madrids points dropped against Dortmund by hyping up Dortmund. To some extent that happened in the English media after City were (almost) beaten by them as well.
Obviously German teams get more publicity by doing well in the CL than doing well in the Bundesliga.
He mentioned Dortmund because they're basically out of the title race in Germany. They will focus their squad only on the CL, so they are a big threat.
But they do posses a threat in pressing and harassing. Something we don't deal quite well with. Maybe Fergie is aware of that.
By that logic Real Madrid is third best team in their country.
Today:
We hope Jonny Evans will be okay for Saturday. He is a doubt, not a serious one though. It's a lot to ask Chris Smalling to play Wednesday and Saturday. It's great he's back and he came through the [Braga] game well. We're monitoring the situation with Jonny - if he doesn't make it Chris will have to play.
Nani is out with a tight hamstring and that will be around 10 days. But he should be okay as it's not torn, just tight.
Although we have a great record at Villa Park, we have never taken them for granted. We've always had to perform there but it's been a good ground for us as a team. We've always enjoyed it. It's one of the old traditional grounds and always has a good atmosphere, their support is always fantastic. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going as it's got us into a good position at the moment.
We're delighted to get through in the Champions League. We found the game [in Braga] difficult but that's an indication of how teams prepare - they just sat back and hoped we'd make mistakes. We lost the goal from the penalty and I thought it was going to be very difficult after that. There was no indication we were going to win the match but then I brought van Persie on and it made them come out a bit and from then on we went on to win it.
I don't think it's a problem relying on Robin van Persie. Last year we lost on goal difference - I don't expect us to lose on goal difference again - Robin may make that difference. You've seen the way young Chicharito has started this season - he'll get 20 goals plus. Wazza will get there too - he'll get 20 goals plus I'm sure. It's a healthy combination we've got there.
We hope Jonny Evans will be okay for Saturday. He is a doubt, not a serious one though. It's a lot to ask Chris Smalling to play Wednesday and Saturday. It's great he's back and he came through the [Braga] game well. We're monitoring the situation with Jonny - if he doesn't make it Chris will have to play.
Nani is out with a tight hamstring and that will be around 10 days. But he should be okay as it's not torn, just tight.
Although we have a great record at Villa Park, we have never taken them for granted. We've always had to perform there but it's been a good ground for us as a team. We've always enjoyed it. It's one of the old traditional grounds and always has a good atmosphere, their support is always fantastic. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going as it's got us into a good position at the moment.
We're delighted to get through in the Champions League. We found the game [in Braga] difficult but that's an indication of how teams prepare - they just sat back and hoped we'd make mistakes. We lost the goal from the penalty and I thought it was going to be very difficult after that. There was no indication we were going to win the match but then I brought van Persie on and it made them come out a bit and from then on we went on to win it.
I don't think it's a problem relying on Robin van Persie. Last year we lost on goal difference - I don't expect us to lose on goal difference again - Robin may make that difference. You've seen the way young Chicharito has started this season - he'll get 20 goals plus. Wazza will get there too - he'll get 20 goals plus I'm sure. It's a healthy combination we've got there.
Fergie saying "Wazza"? Yeuch.
Yo Wazza what up?!
Wazza goal.
Hmmmmm
Well with Hernandez on fire it could be worse.
I have a feeling Rooney will "make" it, just a cover up as Rooney missed the England friendly IMO.
I have a feeling Rooney will "make" it, just a cover up as Rooney missed the England friendly IMO.
Is this it then?
Maybe. It could be, but on the other hand couldn't.
Team news (basically what Neutral quoted): "We still have some doubts about Wayne and Evans. Robin should be fit. We'll see what they're like today. Jones has been training all week and we will take him to Turkey with us. Chicharito should start tomorrow."
On conceding early goals: "After last Saturday's experience we don’t want to concede two goals. The fact we have players to change the course of the game has been a big advantage. Bringing Chicharito on was good for us.
"Hopefully we are going to defend better. It's frustrating there is no consistent theme to what is happening defensively. We have players who can change the course of the game and we have a scoring threat. But we can't continue to give teams a headstart."
On recent unbeaten run: "It's good to get momentum. To win the league you need that momentum. In the past we've gone 20 games without losing. At the moment it's only five. There's a long way to go and it's a tough league, but we are certainly well equipped."
On Welbeck: “With Robin coming in and when we’ve got Wayne as well, you tend to rely on the experience of these players. They are great players too. What we have to try and do is alternate selections so that Danny feels he is making a contribution. At the moment, we have tended to play him wide left. I think he’s capable of playing there. He is a threat coming in off the wing and he has done that many times. But I think he is a natural centre-forward.
“Danny’s best form has actually been with England. He has not had the opportunities with us to play centre-forward all the time. But that will come. We’ve tended to play him wide left, which is maybe a little bit unfair to him. But nonetheless he has shown with his form with England that he can be a real asset to us through the middle. That will come for him.
“Teddy [Sheringham] was never happy being left out, and certainly Coley was never happy being left out! He’d be grumpy and groan for days about it. He wanted to play all the time. I think it’s great if the players want to play all the time. I think the important thing is that they feel they make a contribution over the course of the season.
“That’s where [in ‘99] they felt that they made their contribution. They all scored such important goals whether coming on or actually starting. It’s legend that Sheringham and Solskjaer scored those goals in the Champions League final, and Teddy came on and scored in the FA Cup final. It’s contributions like that that you can’t dismiss.
“What you have to do is be fair. It would have been harder for someone more experienced to be left out in 99. It wasn’t easy. The day we won the league I took Teddy off against his old team because I felt the change was needed. I was sure he was not happy at all. But their contribution was that they all played their part over the course of the season. Danny will get opportunities."
On conceding early goals: "After last Saturday's experience we don’t want to concede two goals. The fact we have players to change the course of the game has been a big advantage. Bringing Chicharito on was good for us.
"Hopefully we are going to defend better. It's frustrating there is no consistent theme to what is happening defensively. We have players who can change the course of the game and we have a scoring threat. But we can't continue to give teams a headstart."
On recent unbeaten run: "It's good to get momentum. To win the league you need that momentum. In the past we've gone 20 games without losing. At the moment it's only five. There's a long way to go and it's a tough league, but we are certainly well equipped."
On Welbeck: “With Robin coming in and when we’ve got Wayne as well, you tend to rely on the experience of these players. They are great players too. What we have to try and do is alternate selections so that Danny feels he is making a contribution. At the moment, we have tended to play him wide left. I think he’s capable of playing there. He is a threat coming in off the wing and he has done that many times. But I think he is a natural centre-forward.
“Danny’s best form has actually been with England. He has not had the opportunities with us to play centre-forward all the time. But that will come. We’ve tended to play him wide left, which is maybe a little bit unfair to him. But nonetheless he has shown with his form with England that he can be a real asset to us through the middle. That will come for him.
“Teddy [Sheringham] was never happy being left out, and certainly Coley was never happy being left out! He’d be grumpy and groan for days about it. He wanted to play all the time. I think it’s great if the players want to play all the time. I think the important thing is that they feel they make a contribution over the course of the season.
“That’s where [in ‘99] they felt that they made their contribution. They all scored such important goals whether coming on or actually starting. It’s legend that Sheringham and Solskjaer scored those goals in the Champions League final, and Teddy came on and scored in the FA Cup final. It’s contributions like that that you can’t dismiss.
“What you have to do is be fair. It would have been harder for someone more experienced to be left out in 99. It wasn’t easy. The day we won the league I took Teddy off against his old team because I felt the change was needed. I was sure he was not happy at all. But their contribution was that they all played their part over the course of the season. Danny will get opportunities."
Cheers Damien.
Rooney and DDG fit. Evans is doubtful. Smalling had a shoulder problem but is now fit.
Sir Alex Ferguson: Rafael Benitez lucky over Chelsea job timing
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has replaced Roberto Di Matteo at Chelsea at a fortunate time.
Benitez won the World Club Cup with Inter soon after taking over from Jose Mourinho and could to do so again when Chelsea play in the event next month.
"Rafael Benitez is very lucky," Ferguson said.
"On his CV in two weeks he could have two world championships and nothing to do with the construction of the teams
Fergie wasting no time
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has replaced Roberto Di Matteo at Chelsea at a fortunate time.
Benitez won the World Club Cup with Inter soon after taking over from Jose Mourinho and could to do so again when Chelsea play in the event next month.
"Rafael Benitez is very lucky," Ferguson said.
"On his CV in two weeks he could have two world championships and nothing to do with the construction of the teams
Fergie wasting no time
Just read about this on Sky and he is spot on with everything he said.
"Everyone in the game is pleased for him now - apart from Chelsea."
Haha brilliant from Fergie
Haha brilliant from Fergie
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