Ferguson predicts English recovery

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes English Premier League clubs will continue to dominate the Champions League.

United and Manchester City failed to progress from the group stage of UEFA’s elite club competition this season, with both teams dropping into the second-tier Europa League.

Chelsea and Arsenal meanwhile face likely elimination in the Champions League round of 16 after comprehensive first-leg defeats to Napoli and AC Milan respectively.

Despite their poor collective performance this season, Ferguson, 70, does not expect English clubs to suffer from a long-term decline in continental competition.

“Success in Europe can sometimes go in cycles,” Ferguson told reporters ahead of his side’s Europa League round-of-32 second leg against Ajax.

“Spain had a great cycle about 10 years ago when Valencia, Deportivo La Coruna, Villarreal, Real Madrid and Barcelona were all dominant.”

“There were three of them in the semi-finals the year Real Madrid won it. We’ve had a great cycle in the Premier League for the eight years, with teams getting to semi-finals and finals.”

“And I don’t see that subsiding, to be honest with you. I think the English teams will continue to be dominant.”

“We’ve had a bad year this year – we (United) have, in particular – and we can only judge ourselves.”

“But with Arsenal and Chelsea, disappointing results though they’ve had, both clubs have had injury problems and you can’t expect them to get the best results without their best teams.”

“So it’s maybe been a disappointing season, but not really to my mind definite that we’re on the slide.”

Ferguson is hoping promising midfielder Tom Cleverley will be able to complete the full 90 minutes against Ajax on Thursday after recently returning from injury.

“He’s a very clever footballer,” Ferguson said of Cleverley.

“He’s got a quick brain in terms of his appreciation of passing.”

“An hour last week against Ajax was fantastic for him and hopefully he’ll pay a full game this time.”

“He gives us more ammunition in the midfield area which, for a few months, everyone was starting to worry about.”

“But with Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and Anderson, who is now back in training, we have some good options.”