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Ferguson to take charge of Manchester United again

SoccerNews in General Soccer News 20 Mar 2017

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Alex Ferguson has been confirmed as the Manchester United manager for Michael Carrick’s testimonial match on June 4.

The heralded former boss will take charge of the home side at Old Trafford against an All-Star XI led by Harry Redknapp, who was Carrick’s manager during his time at West Ham.

Ferguson, who retired in 2013 after guiding United to their 20th top-flight title, says he does not miss the hectic day-to-day life in the Premier League but he is looking forward to a brief comeback.

“I think the best bit will be seeing the players, to be honest with you,” he told MUTV. “No [I don’t miss managing] – I miss the big games, of course, but I made my decision and I’m enjoying it. I don’t have to worry about you lads or the agents or the press conferences and having to control that press secretary of mine!

“I’m delighted Michael is getting a testimonial. It tells you Manchester United are probably the only club in England that can do that. Players do tend to stay a long time here. We don’t have players here one minute and gone the next.

“If you go right back to my time, most of the players stayed 10 or even more years. I think we can be proud of that fact, being a family-type club. It encourages players to put roots down here and enjoy it.

“I read about what Michael’s intentions are [with the funds raised for the event] and I think it’s very honourable. I think he’s shown he’s prepared to share his success and his contribution to the charity, starting it himself, will be very, very worthwhile.”

Ferguson will manage a side comprising members of the squad from 2008, when United claimed a famous Premier League and Champions League double.

The 75-year-old believes that team – which included Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Edwin van der Sar – was a formidable one and admits it caused him a headache when it came to selecting his side for the final against Chelsea in Moscow, which United won on penalties.

“Well, to win the European Cup is fantastic,” he said. “It was a really great bunch of players with a great attitude about them and a good, strong squad. My problem in the 2008 final, maybe I even regret it to this day, was I left Ji-sung Park out completely in the final. He’d played such a great role and that’s the problem when you get to these finals. 

“At Wembley [against Barcelona in 2011], I did it to Dimitar Berbatov and he took it badly. He didn’t deserve it. No player deserves to be left out of the final. That’s why we try hard at these European seminars with the coaches to try to get 11 substitutes in the final. 

“You’ve got four or five sitting in the stand who made fantastic contributions in getting there. You start the tournament in September and go through to May and changes can happen. Maybe you sign a player in January, for instance, who can end up playing in the final.

“It’s a difficult part, always, picking a team for the final in Moscow and I had to make that horrible decision.”

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