Ferguson considering January buys
Alex Ferguson is ready to plunge into the January transfer market in a bid to stave off a season of total underachievement at Manchester United.
Damaging defeats to Middlesbrough and Lille over the past seven days have led United to the point of no return in the Barclays Premiership and Champions League.
Unless Ferguson’s beleaguered squad can find a way of ending Chelsea’s 40-game unbeaten run at Old Trafford tomorrow, the Red Devils might as well kiss their title hopes goodbye while further progress in Europe hinges on a must-win clash with Villarreal on November 22.
Widely regarded as the most likely challengers to Chelsea at the start of the campaign, Ferguson’s side have seen their hopes undermined by a nightmare run of injuries.
Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Gabriel Heinze, Louis Saha and Quinton Fortune have all been ruled out for extended periods already this season, forcing Ferguson to place his faith in youngsters whose confidence has taken a battering.
And the Scot admits the on-going problems may lead to new faces being introduced after the Festive period.
“We would like to bring some players in simply because the numbers game is going against us,” he told MUTV.
“As we all know, it is not easy bringing players in during January but we are addressing the situation, so who knows.”
It raises the possibility of a move for German skipper Michael Ballack, who has been told to let Bayern Munich know what his future plans are by the middle of the month.
Ballack’s drive could certainly assist United in midfield, where Alan Smith’s contribution is believed to have been subjected to a withering assault by Keane in the controversial MUTV interview which was pulled off the MUTV schedules on Monday.
If Keane’s words were intended to raise morale in the Old Trafford camp they failed miserably judging by the lacklustre effort against Lille. And they also brought a critical response from
Ferguson, who sees the personal attacks as totally at odds with his managerial philosophy.
“What you have to do as manager of our club is to make sure the criticism remains inside your doors,” said Ferguson.
“I am unremitting in that respect. Totally unequivocal. My stance is there and it doesn’t change. You don’t criticise any Manchester United player outside the doors. I have never done and I won’t.”
Ferguson revealed Neville and Saha should return to training next week, meaning they could be available for the Villarrealgame, while Fortune may begin his comeback at the end of the month.
Intriguingly, the United boss refused to put a timescale on Keane’s return from a broken foot amid speculation his relationship with the Irishman has deteriorated so badly the United skipper may move on in January himself.
“You are never sure with that type of injury,” said Ferguson. “It could be soon, it could be longer. We will just have to wait and see.”
Either way, neither Keane, nor any of his absent colleagues, will be available to help United out tomorrow as they look to end Chelsea’s 40-game unbeaten run, just as they halted Arsenal’s 49-match charge last season.
“There are some similarities between the two games but this Chelsea side are made of much sterner stuff,” said Ferguson.
“They are a very powerful team and very committed to defending. It is certainly not going to be easy to beat them but maybe what we need just now is the opportunity to play against a very good team.
“The start of the game will be so important and we need the crowd behind us. The question is can we usurp Chelsea and make them think for a bit? I know we have the ability to do it – and I think everyone else does too.”
