Ferguson relief at painless defeat
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir Alex Ferguson counted them all on to the pitch at the Millennium Stadium yesterday, and to his relief counted them all off again. With the team enveloped in their worst pre-season injury crisis in his 18-year reign, the Manchester United manager's pleasure at avoiding another casualty outweighed his disappointment at the 3-1 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
Sir Alex Ferguson counted them all on to the pitch at the Millennium Stadium yesterday, and to his relief counted them all off again. With the team enveloped in their worst pre-season injury crisis in his 18-year reign, the Manchester United manager's pleasure at avoiding another casualty outweighed his disappointment at the 3-1 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
Ferguson's concern followed the news that Louis Saha and Wes Brown had joined the list of players ruled out of Wednesday's Champions' League third-round, first-leg qualifier against Dinamo Bucharest. Already missing the trip to Romania were fellow injury victims Ruud van Nistelrooy, Liam Miller, Kleberson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plus the suspended Rio Ferdinand and the Olympics-bound Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabriel Heinze. In addition, Darren Fletcher is suspended from Saturday's Premiership opener at Chelsea.
Ferguson had hoped Saha and Brown would recover but yesterday said they would not make it. "It is the worst I've known at the start of the season," he said. "We're just glad to get through the game with no more injuries."
Ferguson can still field a strong XI in Romania, but the substitutes bench will consist of Diego Forlan, Roy Carroll and five inexperienced youngsters.
"We are suffering a lot because of the game on Wednesday," Ferguson said. "It is a killer for us in terms of trying to give players enough rest.
"You take Mikaël Silvestre, Gary Neville and Phil Neville - they have only had five days' training. That is not enough. But the situation we are in, we have to play them simply because of the game we have on Wednesday."
Ferguson withdrew Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane just 50 minutes into yesterday's match at Cardiff even though Arsenal had just taken the lead through Gilberto Silva. Although Alan Smith then levelled, both he and Paul Scholes were replaced with 17 minutes remaining despite Arsenal regaining the lead through Jose Antonio Reyes. An own goal by Silvestre completed Arsenal's victory.
His Arsenal counterpart, Arsène Wenger, gave Patrick Vieira until next weekend to make up his mind over whether he wants to leave the club. "I am not resigned to let that story go on," the manager said. "Our intention is very clear. Only he can come out and clarify the situation now, and he needs to do that very quickly."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments