The Hindu : Sport / Football : Ferguson going strong

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Football

Ferguson going strong

London: Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted retirement is the last thing on his mind as he savours the 10th English Premier League football title at the helm of Manchester United.

Pushed to the wire by Chelsea, United was crowned champion of England for the 17th time in the club’s history after a 2-0 win over Wigan on Sunday and few would bet against it drawing level with Liverpool’s 18 titles at the end of next season.

Cristiano Ronaldo, with a first-half penalty, and Ryan Giggs were United’s match-winners against an obdurate Wigan side.

Ferguson turns 67 on December 31 and there has been speculation he could opt to go out on a high if his players beat Chelsea in the Champions League final in Moscow on May 21. But as he celebrated victory in what has been an intriguing title battle, the Scot insisted nothing could be further from his mind.

“Retire? That wife of mine just bullies me, so she’d throw me out of the door at seven o’clock in the morning! So that’s a definite no.”

Ferguson added: “I am proud to have survived for so long, but it is easier for me than the rest because I am at such a great club. How would I be without this? Please tell me.”

Ferguson believes the euphoria of the league triumph can carry his side to glory in Moscow.

“The great thing is we are bouncing into the final,” he said. Ferguson said: “we are bouncing into the Champions League final. If we had lost the title at Wigan, it would have been difficult because when we lost the title at West Ham in 1995, we went into the FA Cup final and we were dead. The team was flat the following Saturday and we lost 1-0 against Everton. But we are not dead this time — we are alive.” — Agencies

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport