We'll be ready to defend title, says Fergie

July 15, 2008

Sir Alex Ferguson

SIR Alex Ferguson reckons the pre-season trip to South Africa will provide the perfect preparation for United's Premier League title defence.

The Reds will fly to Africa on Thursday afternoon with their first match against Kaizer Chiefs at the Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, on Saturday.

Ferguson's side then face Orlando Pirates in Durban on Tuesday July 22, before playing one of the two South Africa sides again in the Vodacom Challenge final at Loftus Stadium, Tshwane - previously called Pretoria - on Saturday July 26.

In the same pre-season tournament two years ago United lost to Kaizer Chiefs on penalties in the final.

There will be a hectic end to the tour with a friendly the following night in Abuja, Nigeria, against Portsmouth on the way back.

Ferguson told MUTV: "The games in South Africa aren't easy games. It's a good, competitive level, so that should bring us on a good deal.

"I think by the time we get to the start of the season we'll be really ready."

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A level head - you decide (15/07/2008 at 15:47)

I've never really understood this whole pre season thing.

How quickly does a player lose optimum fitness levels. People talk as though players have forgotten everything they were doing just 3 months ago, whatever club they are at.

BOOM (15/07/2008 at 16:21)

I agree with Sir Ferguson. A trip to Bavaria is perfect preparation to defend the title as champions of Manchester.

Palmer, London (ex Didsbury) (15/07/2008 at 16:53)

@ A level head - you decide ---
honestly, give it a couple of weeks in a bungalow, and you will find it tough to get up a flight of stairs, especially if you spent the couple of weeks smoking, drinking and eating junk food.

Alias Smith, over the moon (15/07/2008 at 18:12)

A level head, I forget the exact stats but there is a significant loss of fitness level after as little as 10 days of not training. It takes as long to build it back up as it does to lose it - so, for an athlete who's not trained at all for say 6 weeks, it would take them 6 weeks to get back to full fitness.

Ba Ole (20 Legend), Lusaka, Zambia (15/07/2008 at 22:42)

This will be a tough year especially that Ronaldo will not be fully into it whether he goes or stays.

But am happy with the last two years and so I would be very happy if we just won the league and FA Cups and not the Champions' League again. I think that we should be equalling one Liverpool Record this year at least. Seeing that we have the best FA Cup record, being short of Liverpool's UCL triumphs by two wins whould still leave us with enough medals and trophies to be arguably the most successful English Club ever.

In the least however, missing the League and the UCL but winning the FA Cup should still be okay for Man Utd so long as the league is won by Arsenal and the Champions' League by a non-English team.

mancmanomyst, Wythenshawe (16/07/2008 at 10:56)

I don't think travelling all the way to south africa is good for the team.

Obviously fergie wouldn't say that because it would be offensive to our hosts and to our coffers.

It's a long hard slog of a season and some of the players haven't had a proper break with the euros.

We've got the joy of the super cup to look forward to too.

I don't think this year will be a good one for us - expectations are getting too high! People expect a double/trebble every year now. 15 years ago we were happy if we one a single trophy

george (16/07/2008 at 11:07)

It's never easy.If UNITED win the EPL that would be 3 years in a row.That doesn't sound likely.If we win the CL 2 in a row.That doesn't sound likely but we like a challenge at OT.In theory our team should be stronger and more experienced.The danger is that they achieved a lot last year and think they've achieved everything they set out to do.

Alias Smith, over the moon (16/07/2008 at 12:14)

george, we start from a clean slate and there's no better man to make sure the players have the hunger than the man at our helm. As you and I have discussed before, Anderson, Nani and Hargreaves will have a full year under their belts and should crack on. Tevez will have had a proper rest for a change and hopefully Rooney can have an injury-free season. The squad will have the confidence that comes from being double-champions. The prospects are extremely exciting and that's before we sign anyone!

mancmanomyst, South Africa is not that far away these days and it benefits from being in the same time zone as Europe so there will be no jet lag. The players who were at the Euros are not going and those who are have had a good 5-6 weeks off, so should be well rested.

Ba Ole, I think Ronaldo will put the summer's controversy behind him and be just as committed as he was last season. Fergie will see to that.

Roger, Ontario, Ontario (16/07/2008 at 13:44)

Saw a terrific argentinian striker last night in Toronto. Pablo Vitti of Independiente. He might be worth a look at before his price rockets

george (16/07/2008 at 14:42)

Alias;I agree with your comments on Ronaldo and the team.SAF needs an assistant!You should apply.

Sparky, Salford (16/07/2008 at 15:40)

Good comments Alias

Ba Ole - as long as Arsenal win the league........ Bloody hell!! what sort of a Utd fan are you? The thought of anybody else winning any of the trophies makes me feel sick. LAst season was reasonably easy to cope with as we one the 2 big trophies and L'pool, Arsenal, Chelsea and City went without - perfection. It will be tough to win the league again due to a shocking set of pre Christmas fixtures but Berbatov will make a huge difference. Wait and see how Rooney will blossom!

bellion's boots,, Amsterdam (16/07/2008 at 16:26)

Let's hope so!!
After losing our assisstant & all but saying adio to our most effective attacker last season!!
Still I expect us to be ready!!

Ba Ole (20 Legend), Lusaka, Zambia (16/07/2008 at 22:45)

Sparky, Salford
16/07/2008 at 15:40

I guess my words would never fit an Utd fan anyday but I was talking of the least painful scenario. I guess I would hate Liverpool winning any of the EPL or the UCL though they can have the FA cup anyday so long as we are doing very well in the other two and we need the space as they cannot overtake us in the FA Cup wins column.

Thing is, I am almost obsessed with us overtaking Liverpool as the most successful team in England ever and us winning the league, or if we do not win, Liverpool not winning it, will do fireworks in my stomach. Then who wants Chelsea to win after what they did under Mourinho plus they have nothing to show for their wins?

At least with Arsenal, you would think with three or five years of not winning anything or the league respectively, they deserve winning based on their sexy football which is equal to ours or better in other peoples' eyes.

That is the only rational, if you allow me, behind me saying it would be acceptable Arsenal winning the league. Plus I am only being realistic and looking at the bad end of it and not the candy side all the time.

I think that Chelsea have a good chance if they do not sell Drogba but Arsenal is a upended cart of apples.

Alias Smith, over the moon (16/07/2008 at 22:50)

Haha george, dream job! Hell, tea boy at Carrington would do! I was once pretty good at speaking Spanish (now rusty through non-use) but I've never even been to Portugal, not to mind speak the lingo. With the number of Portuguese and Brazilians at the club, that might be a shortcoming on my CV. That, and the fact I know nothing about football! Still, the squad would always be in a positive frame of mind.

Duncan, London (17/07/2008 at 12:59)

I think the police screwing us over our victory celebration will mean we never let the triumph in Europe go to our head. I honestly can't blame Ronaldo for wanting to leave after that excuse for a head of police couldn't even let us celebrate our huge achievement last year. Still world player of the year should compensate:)

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