Fergie eyes treble chance

January 08, 2007

Sir Alex Ferguson

SIR Alex Ferguson has admitted he is setting his sights on a remarkable treble - eight years after he last led Manchester United to the feat.

United are still in with a chance of glory in the Champions League and the Barclays Premiership and completed a 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.

United famously won all three competitions in 1999 and many pundits predicted it would be a once-in-lifetime achievement for the Scot.

But with a six-point lead over Chelsea in the league and a two-leg clash with unfancied Lille standing between them and a place in the last eight of the Champions League, Ferguson is ready to try again.

The Reds have drawn Portsmouth at home in the fourth round and Ferguson said: "We must have a go at it (the treble).

"There is no point in being negative, let's enjoy it.

"We have a good squad of players and are playing some terrific football."

Consistency

Domestically, Ferguson is pleased to have maintained his side's lead over the reigning champions and expects United to improve even more in the second part of the season.

"We need to achieve consistency over the second half of the campaign," he added

"Historically we do okay at this point. In the past, even if we have been erratic earlier in the season, we seem to have drawn a second wind.

"I am sure our present position will drive us on even more. We are pleased to be where we are.

"We are here for the long haul plus we have youth and strength on our side. We are fully capable of winning the championship."

Despite his confidence, Ferguson is already awaiting the Chelsea backlash.

"Chelsea will come back at us. The key is our own form and what we do ourselves.

"If we do it right, we do not need to keep looking over our shoulder."

Striker Louis Saha is expected to return to training this week following a groin strain and could come into contention at the weekend as Villa face United for the second time in a week.

Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar and Paul Scholes look certain to return to the side after being rested for the FA Cup game.

Do you think the six-point gap is enough? Have your say.

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Shalala, Lusaka, Zambia (08/01/2007 at 15:32)

The treble is possible this year though other clubs will not be watching us play. It involves some luck if you see what Monaco, Porto and Arsenal have done in the last few years. But it all starts with a great squad which we have at the moment. The six points at the top is bonus because I think Manchester could still win the EPL if it were at par with Chelsea presently.

K Davidson, Cambridge (08/01/2007 at 15:54)

Win the Premiership! The others are a bonus!!

eighteen, London (08/01/2007 at 15:55)

Fergie says all the right things! United have no chance of winning all three tournaments. Only one thing should be on their minds - Arsenal and Tottenham away before the end of the month. The Premiership is everything.

Rafdy, Reading (08/01/2007 at 15:59)

I think Man Utd could do it, the most important one has got to be bringing the league trophy back to where it belongs. Ronaldo has been amazing so far, just hope he stays fit.

George, RHYL (08/01/2007 at 16:13)

Don't even think about it.The season we actually did it I think we were in the Cup Semi,CL quarter and at the top of the prem,before we dared even hope.After that there was a succession of miracles and we did it.Thankyou Peter Schmeichel! We remember the goals more than some fantastic saves.

macca, cornwall (08/01/2007 at 16:15)

absolutely, arsenal and spurs away are both massive tests, and if we get carried away we could find ourselves chasing chelsea by the end of the month. i personally think if we stay in all 3 competitions, it may hinder our chance of winning the league due to the amount of games, but it all does depend on if we bring anyone else in this month. id love to win the treble, but the league will do.

EDINBURGH RED, EDINBURGH (08/01/2007 at 16:18)

I'd have preferred beating the hammers and newcastle to stretch our lead but cant really complain, if we are 6pts ahead of anyone at the end it'll have been a massive achievement, if we stay clear of injuries, buy some players and get some luck you never know, when you consider how many average teams have made the final recently, with good fortune we could be one of them.

Sparky, Salford (08/01/2007 at 16:28)

Far too early to tell but the players need to enjoy themselves. All of a sudden we have options on our bench that can change games which is fantastic. The Premiership is the main aim and we must concentrate on earning 12 more wins to clinch the title for sure. The cup competitions require a lot of luck, especially the CL.

Lee, Heywood (08/01/2007 at 16:33)

George totally agree it was a miracle that we won the treble and this sqaud doesnt yet have the mental strenght of the 99 team for a start and wont have for another couple of years. The Treble may never be done again.

Chris, Partington (08/01/2007 at 16:35)

A six point gap is only good enough when we have played 36 and have a goal difference of say plus 10. Then I will start to believe it's all over bar the shouting. The double maybe we could but the treble! nah, that's well arrogant. Would be good though.

chris, oxford (08/01/2007 at 16:44)

Far too premature to be talking about a treble! Agree with Lee that this team/squad doesn't have the mental strength to win the CL and I would even say that Fergie has lost the tactical nous to do well in Europe anyway - after watching our away performances these last few seasons can anybody, hand on heart, say that we could go to the likes of Juventus and beat them 3-2 as per 99?

Keene, Keane County (08/01/2007 at 17:00)

Who on this team is going to provide the leadership and generalship of Keane?.....no one is even close on this team...this manager has a screw loose...he should be focused on (with the press also) finding some quality CMs and wingers. If we can win the EPL that would be an amazing accomplishment when you think we have DF, JOS, KR and MS in the squad...truly AMAZING!! I'm afraid we neither have the depth or talent to win the CL and compete in the League and FA Cup....and maturity will not win the CL and the League...talent and depth are needed and we are short....presently....if only those promises of stengthening the squad made last Jan. were realized.
We will need a lot of luck and woes at Chelsea to continue but I got a feeling.....
Spirit of Keano

seamus, vanisle ex-stretford (08/01/2007 at 17:50)

In 99 we were battered by Bayern in the CL final, yet as seemed to be the norm for that season we nicked it at the death. Let's not get carried away, we would need an awful lot of luck to win the treble again. I'd be quite happy with just the PL title. Anything extra is a bonus. However we still need to do something about support for our CM and I really doubt OH will move here in January. Reo-Coker is available and I think he would be a strong addition to our CM and we could probably get him for around 6 mill plus a new Bentley.
BTW, according to this article we beat Villa 3-1 on Sunday?? Really? Did we score another after everyone went home?

joseph pratt, london (08/01/2007 at 17:56)

i thought i was the only manchester utd supporter who not belives, but knows we are going for the BIG 3. thanks sir Alex

Derrick, Bournemouth (08/01/2007 at 18:55)

Oh dear, somebody left the key in Fergies Sanatogen cupboard and now he's over-excited again! Getting the EPL back is everything, failing at three things is nothing.

Pete, Salford (08/01/2007 at 19:20)

start believeing the treble could happen if we get to first week of may and still in with a shout, until then take each game as it comes, if gap is 9 points by end of jan then start looking at the cup competitions, get hargreaves in and make larrsons loan till end of the season

de Meester, Amsterdamned (08/01/2007 at 19:58)

SAF please don't tempt fate!!!
It's early days yet!!
We're only into 4th rd and last 16, so please no talk of 3's!!!
We need to be more ruthless and decisive first!!
I'd rather think that the PL is priority and more fulfilling!
Still who am I to question the wise-one?!

mickey, midlands (08/01/2007 at 20:11)

fergie doesnt really mention the treble - its just MEN hype...
schmeical was amazing, its true - absolutely the backbone of the team.
i think we'll win the league and that in itself would be great. if hargreaves doesnt come is it worth making another midfield purchase? i know he's not available but i'd like cahill for utd - or why not mascherano for 5 mill??

frankyork, northants (08/01/2007 at 20:23)

another saf smokescreen to get
all stoked up about.
this is to gloss over the lack of activity on the transfer front.
ill be very surprised if we spend a penny.
the pot is dry.

colin, canada (08/01/2007 at 22:31)

We have no problems with our strikers or our defence but unless we shore up the middle we will end up struggling by march. I remember in 1999 when people were saying we could end up losing the league and getting knocked out of Europe but we had Beckham, Keane, Scholes and Giggs in the middle and that was as good as it gets.
It gets down to winning one game at a time and that should be our focus right now. We are going to drop points but so are Chelsea and Arsenal are too far back to worry about. If we don't buy this month I think we will have handed the prem to Chelsea.

Pat, Bickington (08/01/2007 at 23:03)

you have misread what Fergie is saying, as an athlete myself I can undertsand what he is saying, he's just saying that we, as the fans as well as players should enjoy being in with a shout in all three of the competitions, nobody can deny that we are amongst the favourites for each so it is not an impossibility that we can lift all three titles, but similarly we could end up with none. These are the margins that professional sport is played on. I just hope that the players play with passion and in the correct style as they have so far. Win or lose we will not become a Chelski.

Fernando, Madrid (08/01/2007 at 23:46)

When we sign Ronaldo we'll knock manchester out of Europa, thats if Lille dont knock you out already. Hala Madrid!

Ama4ManU, Nija (09/01/2007 at 06:33)

I just want to say that I think we should go all out and try for the treble again but I still think that the younger players like rossi should be allowed to play competitions like the FA cup, especially as there is no carling cup for them to play in. The team we used against aston villa was almost a first team and I am suspecting that the trend will continue against portsmouth nd then when we scale through, we will be looking to build on our progress by continuing the trend. What then will happen to those young boys who keep showing promise but wont get a chance to show it or gain experience from opportunities to play. I think i we are going to try to win the FA cup this year, we should do it with a largely youthful(not so first team) squad with a sprinkling of experince in the form of Ole, Larsson, Rio or Giggs. The FA cup is not a priority and we do need to build up our young players and give them games.

manc_abroad, OT (09/01/2007 at 06:37)

Why is SAF talking about the treble at this stage in the season. He would never talk about it in 99 because he did not want to put pressure on the team. The current squad is not strong enough to win the treble. Lets concentrate on the Premiership. 6 points ahead, but we still have to go to Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool and Chel$ki away. Talk is easy, putting the words into action a lot more difficult. One final point if we had the run of play and luck to win the double, then we would be told the squad is strong enough next season with no additions. back to square one.

Newton Heath-er, Manchester (09/01/2007 at 06:45)

Our attacking play has been excellent so far this season and our defence has looked much more solid. I think that we are only a ball winning central midfielder away from having a squad that can win the prem and go all the way in the CL.
But a treble?
Thats a once in a lifetime achievement, am I am happy I saw it even if I did have to sit in the Byern end that night in Barcelona!

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