Sir Alex Ferguson’s long-suffering wife Cathy must have rolled her eyes when she saw her husband packing a DVD of United’s Champions League final defeat by Barcelona on their summer holiday.
But you don’t become one of the greatest club managers of all time by not doing your homework and Fergie’s attention to detail cannot be underestimated.
United kick-off their Champions League campaign against Beskitas on Tuesday, but it’s obvious the 2-0 defeat by Barcelona in last May's final still wrangles with the United gaffer.
The Red Devils were a shadow of the side which crushed Arsenal in the semi-final and Fergie is determined not to repeat the mistakes of last season.
The boss has understandably refused to make clear the reasons which he believes hindered United’s efforts, but has hinted the club’s preparation for the Rome final with Barca was far from perfect.
"You can look at reasons and excuses and it's always better to look at the reasons," said Fergie.
"They are quite clear what they are. If there were no reasons at all then we would be worried but I think there were valid reasons so we will move on.
"I don't want to go into what those reasons were but I took the DVD on holiday and watched it and went through everything and it made me feel more honest about the whole build-up, everything."
"Did we have the right hotel? Things like this, the training, everything. So I am quite clear about where we are.
"I think those problems can be put right and they certainly will be put right."
United flew out on Monday, May 25 for the final, which was two days later, and trained in the evening before retiring to Rome’s five-star Exedra Hotel.
We await Fergie's plans for next year, assuming United reach it again.
Jesus wept "did we have the right hotel" - were United staying in the f*cking Ibis? Somehow I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteIt will be nothing short of a football miracle if United reach this year's final.
We will need to continue to have the luck we've had against Arsenal (and likely to have against City with Adebayor set to get banned) if we are to stand any chance of reaching the knockout stages.
Which other team in the Premier League is relying on two players over the age of 34 in central midfield? There isn't another one of course.
IF Fergie was serious about reaching another final he needed to get busy in the transfer market this summer, but instead he went chasing the wrong targets like Benzema who never wanted to come to England.